Compare towns
Whitman vs Sutton vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Whitman | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Highest |
9,452Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% 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 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest 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+ | 31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% 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 | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | 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 Our Story | 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.