Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,308Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Dover and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Sturbridge 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
— | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | 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 |
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.