Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Winchester vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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.

MeasureSturbridgeWinchesterSutton
People
Population
9,960
10,284Highest
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
49.1±6.2Highest
26% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
Winchester 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
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Winchester 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Winchester 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
69% above U.S.
$66,519±$12kLowest
18% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
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
28% above U.S.
$249,500±$17kLowest
25% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,174±$116Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$4,780Lowest
53% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±15.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Winchester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #97 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Explorations District · Regional School District 07 Sutton
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Northwestern Regional High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
9.7
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.