Compare towns
Brookline vs Sutton vs Upton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brookline | Sutton | Upton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
118,796Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% 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 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7Lowest 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+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
80.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$130,748±$4kLowest 26% 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 | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,092,100±$42k 94% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,787±$48 58% above MA |
| Brookline and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$4,802Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3Lowest 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 | 8.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cambridge and Brookline 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Cambridge |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Cambridge Rindge and Latin |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.