Compare towns
Oxford vs Shirley vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
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 | Shirley | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,452 |
| 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±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Shirley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Oxford High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.