Compare towns
Sutton vs Dudley vs Whitman 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Dudley | Whitman | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
11,929 |
15,295Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Whitman-Hanson | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.3Highest |
— | 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.