Compare towns
Whitman vs Sutton vs Sturbridge vs Dudley
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Whitman | Sutton | Sturbridge | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,295Highest |
9,452Lowest |
9,960 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
20.6%±3.3 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% |
16.9%±3 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below 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% |
47.4%±4.1 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% 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 |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
7.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.