Compare towns
Strafford vs Sutton vs Middlesex vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton | Middlesex | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,452Highest |
1,943 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| 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.