Compare towns
Paxton vs Dover vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Paxton | Dover | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
5,930 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Dover and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.