Compare towns
Holbrook vs Upton vs Sutton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Holbrook | Upton | Sutton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% 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 | $465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 | $1,094±$423 38% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1 |
| 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.