Compare towns

Sutton vs Northampton 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 homeowners (85%).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureSuttonNorthamptonWaterville
People
Population
790
30,962Highest
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±5.7
20% above U.S.
41.3±2.2Lowest
6% above 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%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
16%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Sutton 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%
20.4%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
$80,288±$6kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Northampton 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.
$429,700±$17kHighest
29% above U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,439±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,975
27% above U.S.
$5,680Highest
82% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±31.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Northampton 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%
13.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #159 of 282 in MA —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town None in town Northampton High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.