Compare towns
North Eastham vs Sutton vs Upton vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | North Eastham | Sutton | Upton | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,085 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,893Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.9±4.4Highest 57% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
| North Eastham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 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+ | 47%±7.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,442±$5kLowest 26% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% 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 | $689,300±$88kHighest 23% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
| North Eastham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,688±$118Highest 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| North Eastham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,789Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74%±50.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
| North Eastham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%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 |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Upton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.