Compare towns
Methuen vs Sutton vs Upton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
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 | Methuen | Sutton | Upton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA |
| Milford and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,869 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Milford |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.