Compare towns
Sutton vs Devens vs Union 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 youngest population (median age 44.3).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Devens | Union | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,723 |
944Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Union and Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Union 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 82% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Devens 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% 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% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Union School District | 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 |
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.