Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Middlesex 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
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189 |
1,943Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 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.