Compare towns
Sutton vs Colebrook vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($147k).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Colebrook | Lancaster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,494Lowest |
8,606 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Lancaster 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% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,211Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Colebrook School District | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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 |
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.