Compare towns
Sutton vs Chaplin vs Sturbridge vs Wilbraham
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Chaplin | Sturbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,070Lowest |
9,960 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge 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% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Wilbraham 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. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Parish Hill High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
7.5Lowest |
7.7 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.