Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Windham vs Sutton vs Lancaster
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 affordable homes ($426k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Windham | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
16,038Highest |
9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Windham School District | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Windham High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.