Compare towns
Sutton vs Barnstead vs Wilbraham 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
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Barnstead | Wilbraham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,994Lowest |
14,572Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Wilbraham 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 82% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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 | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% 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 | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Upton 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Barnstead School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.