Compare towns
Arlington vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most expensive homes ($934k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Arlington | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Arlington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.