Compare towns

Woonsocket 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

Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
43,521Highest
9,960
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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+
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% 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
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
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
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI #89 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton
High school in town Woonsocket High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
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.