Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Topsfield
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 affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,189 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Sutton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.