Compare towns
Sutton vs Gorham vs Sturbridge vs Oxford
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Gorham | Sturbridge | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,682Lowest |
9,960 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% 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 | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Gorham High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.0 |
7.7Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.