Compare towns
Sutton vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,374Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$106,331±$22kLowest 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 |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Westminster 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.6Highest |
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.