Compare towns
Sutton vs Wayne vs Sturbridge vs Oxford
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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Sturbridge | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,101Lowest |
9,960 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest 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% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% 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. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% 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% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 38 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.