Compare towns
Sutton vs Sharon 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($737k 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 | Sharon | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
18,574Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sharon 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 |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sharon 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 MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Sharon | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Sharon High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.