Compare towns
Gardner vs Sutton vs Upton vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 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 | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,239Lowest |
8,189 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Adams and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Kearsarge Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.