Compare towns
Sutton vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
2,799Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% 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. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% 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. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thornton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | 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 |
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.