Compare towns
Sutton vs Reading vs Sturbridge vs Millbury
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
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 | Reading | Sturbridge | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
699Lowest |
9,960 |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Sturbridge 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,406Lowest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Millbury |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.