Compare towns
Sutton vs Townsend vs Canterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Townsend | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37k 60% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | North Middlesex | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.