Compare towns
Oxford vs Sutton vs Williston vs Auburn
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 affordable homes ($375k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Auburn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Williston | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,385 |
9,452Lowest |
10,144 |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Williston and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Auburn 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Auburn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Williston 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 29% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16k 20% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,467±$155 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% 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% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Auburn 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Sutton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Auburn |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School | None in town | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.