Compare towns
Sutton vs Topsfield vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
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 | Topsfield | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,564Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury 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 42% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Topsfield | Millbury |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.