Compare towns
Sutton vs Ware vs West Brookfield vs Millbury
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 highest household income ($147k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Ware | West Brookfield | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,048 |
3,859Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Sutton and Millbury 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and West Brookfield 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and West Brookfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ware | Quaboag Regional | Millbury |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| 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.