Compare towns

Methuen vs Upton vs Sutton vs Haverhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% 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.

MeasureMethuenUptonSuttonHaverhill
People
Population
53,475
8,189Lowest
9,452
67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±1.7
about the MA average
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
39.4±1.1Lowest
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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.3%±1.5
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%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
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%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
32.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,310±$7k
9% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% above MA
$88,326±$4kLowest
15% 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
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
$453,900±$9kLowest
19% 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±$91Highest
about the MA average
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
$1,668±$49
5% below MA
Methuen and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,061
16% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,763
13% above MA
$4,772Lowest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±6.5
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.2%±5.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Haverhill and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
11.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
27 minLowest
6% below MA
Work from home
12.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±1.5
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 #46 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #243 of 282 in MA
School district Methuen Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Sutton Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Methuen High Blackstone Valley Sutton High School Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.2Lowest
12.6
12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet 6 photos →

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.