Compare towns
Holden vs Sutton vs Upton vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Holden | Sutton | Upton | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
| Upton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$520,500±$48k 7% 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 | $1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Upton 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 | #57 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.