Compare towns
Sutton vs Sturbridge vs Oxford
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Sturbridge | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest 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% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford 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 42% above MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 7% below MA |
$418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,410 7% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.