Compare towns
Middleborough vs Sutton vs Upton vs Saugus
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 affordable homes ($469k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus 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 |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| 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±$41k about the MA average |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Saugus and Upton 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 |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest 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 |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older 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 about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 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 | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Saugus |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.