Compare towns
Georgetown vs Athol 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
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Georgetown | Athol | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
12,011Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272 21% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Athol-Royalston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Athol High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.6 |
11.2 |
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.