Compare towns
Sutton vs Marblehead 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 homeowners (89.7%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Marblehead | Sturbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
20,413Highest |
9,960 |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
| Marblehead and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| Marblehead and Sutton 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.