Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Middlesex vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Strafford | Middlesex | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,943 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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 82% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.