Compare towns
Sutton vs Holyoke vs Upton 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Holyoke | Upton | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
37,813Highest |
8,189Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Holyoke 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% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Holyoke 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% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| 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 7% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| 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±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,021±$60 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Holyoke · Springfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Holyoke High | Blackstone Valley | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.5 |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.