Compare towns
Hampden vs Sutton vs Upton vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Monson has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Hampden | Sutton | Upton | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,946Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
8,136 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.8±3.2 20% above MA |
| Hampden and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below 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 | $358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA |
| Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 3% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,877Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±7.5 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.