Compare towns
Sutton vs Williston vs Wilbraham vs Sturbridge
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Williston | Wilbraham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
10,144 |
14,572Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Wilbraham 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #88 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.