Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Hanson vs Oxford
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 people working from home (22.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Oxford has the shortest commute (28 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 | Webster | Hanson | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,660 |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Oxford 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Sutton and Hanson 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| Hanson 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 |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.6 |
14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.