Compare towns
Freetown vs Sutton vs Upton vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Berkley has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Freetown | Sutton | Upton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berkley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kLowest 38% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% 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 | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$511,200±$45kLowest 9% 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 | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Freetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 3.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.