What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Sturbridge
People
Population	2,239Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kLowest 61% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Sutton 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	—	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.