Compare towns

Worcester vs Sutton vs Strafford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureWorcesterSuttonStrafford
People
Population
831Lowest
2,239Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Kearsarge Regional School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.