Compare towns
Sutton vs Berlin 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
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wilbraham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Berlin | Wilbraham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
20,361Highest |
14,572 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest 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% |
23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Wilbraham 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% |
44.9%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% |
7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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. |
$113,598±$11kLowest 41% 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. |
$374,600±$13kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,402±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin 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. |
$7,291 134% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 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% |
63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Wilbraham 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%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Berlin School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Berlin High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.5 |
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.