Compare towns
Sutton vs Suffield vs Brooklyn 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).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Suffield | Brooklyn | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,702Highest |
8,517Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Suffield School District | Brooklyn School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.9 |
— | 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.