Compare towns
Rochester vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above 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 | $599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.