Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Windham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sturbridge has the most renters (16.7% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Sutton | Windham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452 |
16,038Highest |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,009±$225 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,410Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.