Compare towns
Madison vs Sutton vs Upton vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Madison | Sutton | Upton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Madison and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.