Compare towns
Sutton vs Shirley vs Wilbraham 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%).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Shirley | Wilbraham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,976Lowest |
14,572Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Wilbraham 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 |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| 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 |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.