Compare towns
Halifax vs Oxford vs Sutton
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Oxford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
13,385Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Halifax and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Oxford | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.