Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Middlesex | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,372Lowest |
1,943 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | — | 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.