Compare towns
Sutton vs Wayne vs Mendon 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 highest household income ($147k).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Wayne | Mendon | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,101Lowest |
6,325 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Sutton 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Sutton 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 38 | Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 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.