Compare towns
Sutton vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Lawrence | Everett | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lawrence 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 42% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Lawrence | Everett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Lawrence High School | Everett High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.6Highest |
12.1 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.