Compare towns
Sutton vs Worcester vs Athol 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Worcester | Athol | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
207,055Highest |
12,011 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Athol 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Athol 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Worcester and Sutton 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Athol-Royalston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | South High Community | Athol High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.6Highest |
11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.