Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Union vs Sutton vs Lancaster
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 the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Union | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
944Lowest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Union and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Lancaster 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Lancaster 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Union School District | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.