Compare towns
Oxford vs Sutton vs Townsend
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
9,452 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Townsend 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Townsend 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Townsend 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.