Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Upton vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Gardner | Sutton | Upton | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.1±2.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 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+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Springfield Town and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below 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 | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$321,500±$16k 43% 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 | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| Sutton and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.