Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Putney vs Oxford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Oxford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Putney | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,372Lowest |
2,622 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Oxford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.