Compare towns
Oxford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Oxford | Athol | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
12,011 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 5% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
| Sutton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 23% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Athol-Royalston | Sutton |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Athol High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
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.