Compare towns
Sutton vs Shirley vs Millbury
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 highest household income ($147k).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Shirley | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,976Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
| Sutton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.