Compare towns
Sutton vs Townsend vs Worcester vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Townsend | Worcester | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,100Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sturbridge 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional | South High Community | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.1 |
14.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.