Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Ayer vs Wilbraham
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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Upton | Ayer | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Ayer 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Ayer 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
11.5 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.