Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Upton vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Pepperell | Sutton | Upton | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 15% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.