Compare towns
Sutton vs Chilmark vs Needham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Chilmark | Needham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Up-Island Regional | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.