Compare towns
Surry vs Upton vs Sutton vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Surry | Upton | Sutton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,836 |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 35% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below 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 | $296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below 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 | $969±$129 31% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 39% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 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 | Surry Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.