Compare towns
Athol vs Sutton vs Upton vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Athol | Sutton | Upton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.