Compare towns
Sutton vs Middlebury vs Upton vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
7,220Lowest |
8,189 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$417,400±$31kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,201±$120 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,795 118% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.