Compare towns
Mendon vs Sutton vs Dudley vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mendon | Sutton | Dudley | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
9,452 |
11,929Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.