Compare towns
Rupert vs Sutton vs Ira vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Rupert | Sutton | Ira | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
9,452Highest |
381Lowest |
452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Waltham 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | — | — |
| High school 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 | 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.