Compare towns
Paxton vs Topsfield 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).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Topsfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
6,564 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Sutton 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Paxton and Sutton 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%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Topsfield 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Topsfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.