Compare towns
Amesbury vs Grafton vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Amesbury | Grafton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
19,902Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Amesbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Grafton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Grafton High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.