Compare towns
Newark vs Sutton vs Townsend vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Newark | Sutton | Townsend | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
790 |
9,100Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$87,143±$17k 8% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,177 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke and Newark 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.