Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Middlebury vs Wilbraham
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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Wilbraham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
9,175 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 70 in VT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Middlebury Union High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.