Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Webster vs Sutton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
12,228Highest |
9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% 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 |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 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 |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | 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 |
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.