Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Salisbury 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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% 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 | Strafford | Salisbury | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,372 |
1,200Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sturbridge 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. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 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.