Compare towns
Sutton vs Lexington vs Upton vs Sturbridge
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 youngest population (median age 44.3).
Lexington has the most expensive homes ($1203k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Lexington | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
34,295Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Lexington and Sturbridge 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% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Lexington 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Lexington | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Lexington High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.