Compare towns
Sutton vs Nelson vs Millbury vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% 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 | Nelson | Millbury | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
648Lowest |
13,961Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% 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%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury 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 82% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Millbury and Nelson 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,406Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Upton 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 | — | #202 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Nelson School District | Millbury | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.