Compare towns
Sutton vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
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 | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,976Lowest |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Sutton 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Shirley 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 |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| 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±$36k 24% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Shirley and Sutton 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 |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.