Compare towns
Northampton vs Sutton vs Upton vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Northampton | Sutton | Upton | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$107,030±$11k 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 | $429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norwood |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.