Compare towns
Stow vs Sutton vs Upton vs Boxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Stow | Sutton | Upton | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
| Boxborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.