Compare towns

Sutton vs Lowell vs Waterville

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 people working from home (11.6%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

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.

MeasureSuttonLowellWaterville
People
Population
790
118,368Highest
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±5.7
20% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
Lowell and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
$78,658±$4kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$231,100±$41kLowest
31% below U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,975
27% above U.S.
$4,499Highest
44% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±31.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Lowell and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Lowell 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 — #255 of 282 in MA —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Lowell Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town None in town Lowell High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
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.