Compare towns
Upton vs Dedham vs Thompson vs Sutton
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Dedham | Thompson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,337 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Sutton 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 93% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Thompson 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Thompson School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4 |
7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.