Compare towns
Petersham vs Sutton vs Upton vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Phillipston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Petersham | Sutton | Upton | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 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+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$94,692±$14kLowest 9% 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 | $392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$372,400±$27kLowest 34% 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 | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 23% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.