Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Lancaster | Windsor Locks | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest 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. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs 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. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 8.9 |
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.