Compare towns
Sutton vs Thompson vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Pepperell | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,337 |
11,663Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%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. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Pepperell 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
43.8% 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% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest 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. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thompson School District | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.