Compare towns
Lowell vs Upton vs Sutton vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Lowell | Upton | Sutton | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% 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 | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% 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 | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.