Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,048 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%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 |
43.1±4.7 8% 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Sturbridge 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Sturbridge 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±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237 29% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older 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% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | Ware | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
11.1 |
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.