Compare towns
Sutton vs Lee vs Sturbridge vs Wilbraham
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Lee | Sturbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
5,719Lowest |
9,960 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
| Lee and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Lee and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Lee | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Lee Middle/High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.2 |
7.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.