Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Dover | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
5,930Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Oxford 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.