Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Rowley 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%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Mendon | Rowley | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,325 |
6,251Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Rowley 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 |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above 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 |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rowley and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Mendon and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mendon-Upton | Triton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 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.