Compare towns
Wayne vs Sutton 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
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Wayne | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
9,452 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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 | $362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.