Compare towns
Avon vs Upton vs Sutton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
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 | Avon | Upton | Sutton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% 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 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above 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 | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% 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 | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Avon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.2 |
12.6 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.