Compare towns
Upton vs Acton vs Sutton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
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 | Upton | Acton | Sutton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,721Lowest |
9,452 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$96,365±$4k 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$476,700±$12k 43% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,869 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton Public Schools | Sutton | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Sutton High School | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.