Compare towns
Orange vs Sutton vs Upton vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Orange | Sutton | Upton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest 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 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% 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 | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 31% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.