Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanson vs Chaplin 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%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Hanson | Chaplin | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,660Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Chaplin 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Parish Hill High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
7.7 |
| 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.