Compare towns
Marlow vs Sutton vs Upton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Marlow | Sutton | Upton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12kLowest 7% 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 | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below 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 | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Sutton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5 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 | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lempster 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 | 4 photos → | 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.