Compare towns
Sutton vs Smithfield vs Millbury 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).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Millbury | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
22,233Highest |
13,961 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Millbury 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #202 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Smithfield | Millbury | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Smithfield High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.8 |
11.3 |
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.