Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Townsend vs Sutton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Townsend | Sutton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,100 |
9,452 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Townsend 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 32% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Middlesex | Sutton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.