Compare towns
Sutton vs Dunbarton 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,097Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dunbarton 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 |
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.