Compare towns
Conway vs Upton vs Sutton vs Shutesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Shutesbury has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Conway | Upton | Sutton | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
1,910 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
50.2±4.5 26% above MA |
| Conway and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shutesbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$123,333±$12k 19% 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 | $395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$376,100±$21kLowest 33% 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 | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,721±$111 about the MA average |
| Conway and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,642 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
40%±17 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 | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±7.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Shutesbury 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Shutesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.