Compare towns
Halifax vs Hanson vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Halifax | Hanson | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% 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 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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 | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.