Compare towns
Townsend vs Sturbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Townsend | Sturbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% 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 | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.