Compare towns
Middleborough vs Sutton vs Upton vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Middleborough | Sutton | Upton | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 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 | 18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dracut and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above 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 | $468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$473,900±$17k 16% 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 | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dracut |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.