Compare towns
Sutton vs Sturbridge vs Waterville vs Burke
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 affordable homes ($231k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Sturbridge | Waterville | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
9,960Highest |
680Lowest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$87,143±$17k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,177 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— | — |
| 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.