Compare towns
Sutton vs Athol vs Windsor Locks
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 most expensive homes ($523k median).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Sutton | Athol | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
12,011 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
| Windsor Locks and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sutton | Athol-Royalston | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Athol High | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.