Compare towns
Amherst vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Amherst | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kLowest 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Upton 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.