Compare towns
Gloucester vs Sutton vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the most renters (36.1% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k median).
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 | Gloucester | Sutton | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
9,452 |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
45±3.4 13% above MA |
| Gloucester and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Gloucester and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Sutton | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.