Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Walpole vs Sutton vs Sturbridge
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).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($418k 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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
26,388Highest |
9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% 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 |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.8% 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% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$131,568±$34kLowest 27% above 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 |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,009±$225 14% above MA |
| Walpole 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,410Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older 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 9% 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% |
14%±9.4Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Walpole High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.3 |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.