Compare towns
Upton vs Sutton vs Ashby
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%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Sutton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
9,452Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Ashby 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.