Compare towns
Sutton vs Union vs Wilbraham 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
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Union | Wilbraham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
944Lowest |
14,572Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Wilbraham 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$416,000±$25k 25% 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±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Union School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.