Compare towns
Millbury vs Athol vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Millbury | Athol | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Highest |
12,011 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Millbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Athol-Royalston | Sutton |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Athol High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.