Compare towns
Sutton vs Townsend vs Leicester vs Newark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Newark has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Leicester | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
9,100Highest |
1,026 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Leicester 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$309,700±$107k 7% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,098±$300Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Sutton 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark and Leicester 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.