Compare towns
Sutton vs Wheelock vs Jay
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Wheelock | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
717 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Wheelock 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 82% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | — |
| School district | Sutton | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.