Compare towns

Windham vs Sturbridge vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

MeasureWindhamSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
16,038Highest
9,960
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kLowest
69% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$425,800±$18kLowest
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,520Lowest
109% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #89 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Windham School District Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton
High school in town Windham High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
7.7Lowest
12.6
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.