Compare towns

Preston vs Sutton vs Upton vs Montville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Montville has the most affordable homes ($286k 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.

MeasurePrestonSuttonUptonMontville
People
Population
4,821Lowest
9,452
8,189
17,950Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
46.2±7
19% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
42.8±4.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
Upton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Montville and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$96,454±$11kLowest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$285,600±$13kLowest
14% below U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,187±$99
16% below U.S.
Preston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,749
52% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,565Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #93 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #95 of 149 in CT
School district Preston School District Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Montville School District
High school in town None in town Sutton High School Blackstone Valley Montville High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
11.2
9.2Lowest
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.