Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Worcester vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452 |
831Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Charlton 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Sutton 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 | — | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 9.7 |
| 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.