Compare towns

Sutton vs Thompson vs Hanson 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureSuttonThompsonHansonUpton
People
Population
9,452
9,337
10,660Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Hanson 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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanson 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
82% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% 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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Upton and Hanson 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.
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Hanson 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.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,402
105% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Thompson 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%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
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 #130 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Thompson School District Whitman-Hanson Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Sutton High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Whitman Hanson Regional Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
7.9Lowest
14.7Highest
11.2
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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.