Compare towns
Leyden vs Sutton vs Upton vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Leyden | Sutton | Upton | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 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+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% 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 | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% 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 | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.