Compare towns
Barre vs Sutton vs Upton vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Blackstone has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Barre | Sutton | Upton | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% 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 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% 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 | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$404,400±$34k 28% 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 | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.