Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanson vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,660Highest |
9,337Lowest |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Sturbridge 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest 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% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs 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 20% 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% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Thompson School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
7.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.