Compare towns
Oxford vs Sutton vs Thompson vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Sutton | Thompson | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
9,452 |
9,337Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Sutton | Thompson School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.6 |
7.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



