Compare towns

Sutton vs Westhampton 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).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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.

MeasureSuttonWesthamptonSturbridge
People
Population
9,452
1,552Lowest
9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5Lowest
11% above MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
47.2±2.6
18% above MA
Westhampton and Sturbridge 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%
18%±4.1Lowest
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%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.8%±3
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton 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%
47%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
49.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sturbridge and Sutton 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
$100,000±$7kLowest
4% 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
$413,200±$24kLowest
26% below MA
$425,800±$18k
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,304±$229Highest
26% below MA
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
Westhampton 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
$6,476Lowest
8% above MA
$6,520
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
MA: 10%
6.5%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
about the MA average
29 minLowest
about the MA average
38 minHighest
30% above MA
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Lowest
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 — #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Hampshire · Westhampton Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Sutton High School Hampshire Regional High Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
10.0
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.