Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
207,055Highest |
9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%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 |
1951Lowest 13 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | South High Community | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
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| 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.