Compare towns
Sutton vs Shrewsbury 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 affordable homes ($523k median).
Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Shrewsbury | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
38,876Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shrewsbury 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 |
$139,302±$11kLowest 34% 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±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$592,300±$20kHighest 5% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Shrewsbury and Upton 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 |
$2,116±$98Highest 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Shrewsbury 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 | #30 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Shrewsbury | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Shrewsbury High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.