Compare towns
Sutton vs Townsend 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Townsend | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
9,100Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Townsend 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.

