Compare towns
Strafford vs Sutton vs Warren 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).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($357k 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.
| Measure | Strafford | Sutton | Warren | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,452Highest |
1,585 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Warren 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Warren and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% 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% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older 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. |
19 min 30% below 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% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Sutton | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| 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.