Compare towns
Sutton vs Amherst vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Sutton | Amherst | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
11,861Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kLowest 82% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Upton 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.