Compare towns
Sutton vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Northfield | Upton | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,872Lowest |
8,189 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Northfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oxford 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$374,900±$18kLowest 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 |
$1,142±$200 35% 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% 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% |
49.2%±25.9 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 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 |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Pioneer Valley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Pioneer Valley Regional | Blackstone Valley | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7 |
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.