Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Upton 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 the most homeowners (89.7%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Strafford | Upton | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,372Lowest |
8,189 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest 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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% 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±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Upton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.