Compare towns
Sutton vs Halifax vs Putnam 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%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Halifax | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,748Lowest |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Halifax 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. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Halifax | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.