Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ware 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
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Ware | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,048Highest |
9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
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%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 32% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% above 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,410 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older 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 |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ware | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.1 |
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.