Compare towns
Strafford vs Upton vs Sutton
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.