Compare towns
Sutton vs Halifax vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($147k).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Halifax | Lancaster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
847Lowest |
8,606 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Lancaster 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% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Halifax 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Halifax School District | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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 | 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.