Compare towns
Cavendish vs Sutton vs Sharon vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Cavendish | Sutton | Sharon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
9,452Highest |
1,577 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Sutton | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.