Compare towns
Manchester vs Sutton vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Manchester | Sutton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,424 |
9,452Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pownal and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,031±$16kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$116 30% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,486Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sutton | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.