Compare towns
Sutton vs Chilmark vs Dover vs Upton
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 affordable homes ($523k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Upton has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Dover | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,578Lowest |
5,930 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Up-Island Regional | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.