Compare towns
Sutton vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,337Lowest |
12,579Highest |
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±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sturbridge 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
7.9 |
8.9 |
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.