Compare towns
Sutton vs Calais vs Sturbridge vs Northbridge
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).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Calais | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,713Lowest |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Calais and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.