Compare towns
Medford vs Sutton vs Upton vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the youngest population (median age 35.9).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Medford | Sutton | Upton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,354Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 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+ | 59.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8kLowest 25% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest 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 | 7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
61.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Arlington |
| High school in town | Medford High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.