Compare towns
Upton vs Fairfax 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,226Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfax 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. |
$128,963±$29kLowest 60% 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±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% 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. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Upton 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Fairfax School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.