Compare towns
Bourne vs Paxton vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% 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 | Bourne | Paxton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,323Highest |
5,002Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Bourne and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Paxton and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett | Sutton |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.