Compare towns

Sutton vs Berlin vs Oxford

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 highest household income ($147k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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.

MeasureSuttonBerlinOxford
People
Population
9,452
3,378Lowest
13,385Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+10.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
49.7±2.8Highest
24% above MA
42±2.8Lowest
5% above MA
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Oxford 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
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±5.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.6%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.3%
MA: 47.3%
29.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Oxford and Berlin 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
42% above MA
$121,336±$12k
17% above MA
$103,862±$10kLowest
about the MA average
Sutton and Berlin 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
$616,600±$55kHighest
10% above MA
$374,900±$18kLowest
33% below MA
Berlin 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
$2,420±$933Highest
37% above MA
$1,177±$142Lowest
33% below MA
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
13% above MA
$7,116Highest
19% above MA
$4,622Lowest
23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±19.7
MA: 51.8%
57.8%±15.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Oxford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
77.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1992Highest
28 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
about the MA average
34 minHighest
17% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±6.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.4%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Berlin 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 #61 of 282 in MA #245 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Berlin-Boylston Oxford
High school in town Sutton High School None in town Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
—
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.