Compare towns
Sutton vs Coventry vs Sturbridge vs Lancaster
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).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Coventry | Sturbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
12,326Highest |
9,960 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.4±3.8 17% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Coventry 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% |
20.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Coventry 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% |
20.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry 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% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Coventry 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. |
$108,213±$5kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$330,000±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% 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. |
$1,232±$330 13% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,284Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Coventry 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Coventry School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Coventry High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.9 |
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.