Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Wareham vs Sutton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Sutton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
23,302Highest |
9,452Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Wareham 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Wareham and Charlton 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wareham | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Wareham Senior High | Sutton High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
8.6 |
12.6Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.