Compare towns
Upton vs Grafton vs Amesbury 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 the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Grafton | Amesbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
19,902Highest |
17,403 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
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% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Grafton 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% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Amesbury 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 |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Grafton 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 |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Amesbury and Grafton 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 |
$7,117 19% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Upton 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% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Grafton | Amesbury | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Grafton High School | Amesbury High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.