Compare towns
Sutton vs Orange vs Sturbridge vs Wilbraham
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Orange has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Orange | Sturbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
14,315 |
9,960 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Wilbraham 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. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Orange 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. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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 |
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.