Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Ayer 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 homeowners (89.7%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Mendon | Ayer | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,325Lowest |
8,645 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% 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% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Ayer 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 |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Mendon and Upton 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 |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.5 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.