Compare towns
Sutton vs Readfield vs Wilbraham vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Readfield | Wilbraham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,651Lowest |
14,572Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Readfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Sutton 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #88 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 38 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | Minnechaug Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.5 |
14.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.