Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Walpole 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
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Walpole | Sutton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
26,388Highest |
9,452 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest 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±1.2Lowest 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
| Walpole 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 24% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%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 |
1977Lowest 13 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 |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sutton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Walpole High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.3 |
12.6Highest |
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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.