Compare towns
Sutton vs Reading vs Millbury 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k median).
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 | Reading | Millbury | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
25,612Highest |
13,961 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Reading and Upton 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Reading and Millbury 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Reading | Millbury | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Reading Memorial High | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.3 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.