Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Oxford 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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Oxford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Webster | Oxford | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
17,748Highest |
13,385 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42±2.8 5% above 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
$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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Webster and Sturbridge 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | Oxford | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Oxford High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.