Compare towns
Dalton vs Upton vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Dalton | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Dalton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% 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 | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% 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 | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.2 |
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.