Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheffield 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%).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sheffield | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
3,330Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%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. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 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. |
21 minLowest 22% below 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% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Whitingham 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 | — | #250 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Southern Berkshire | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | 7.8 |
| 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.