Compare towns
Sutton vs Uxbridge vs Shirley vs Upton
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Uxbridge has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Uxbridge | Shirley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
14,473Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Shirley 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% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Uxbridge 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 |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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 |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Shirley 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 |
$5,836 about the MA average |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 26% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #183 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Uxbridge | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Uxbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.