Compare towns
Sutton vs Gardner vs Dunstable 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Gardner | Dunstable | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
21,148Highest |
3,408Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Dunstable and Sturbridge 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Dunstable 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Gardner | Groton-Dunstable | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Gardner High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.5Highest |
— | 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.