Compare towns
Upton vs Barre vs Townsend vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Barre | Townsend | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,572Lowest |
9,100 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Barre 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| 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 46% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.