Compare towns
Sutton vs Lowell vs Waterville vs Whitingham
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).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Lowell | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
118,368Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| 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% |
-1% 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. |
46.4±7.1 19% 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% |
19.8%±4.5 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest 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% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Lowell 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% 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% |
9.7%±5.2 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.