Compare towns
Sutton vs Dedham vs Salem 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 highest household income ($147k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Dedham | Salem | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Dedham and Salem 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dedham | Salem | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Dedham High | Salem High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.4 |
9.8 |
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.