Compare towns
Sutton vs Auburn vs Upton vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Auburn | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
16,970Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Upton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Auburn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Auburn Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.