Compare towns
Townsend vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Townsend | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Townsend and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.6 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.