Compare towns
Sutton vs Beacon Falls vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Sutton | Beacon Falls | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,147Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest 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+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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 | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Beacon Falls 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #77 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Regional School District 16 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Woodland Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.