Compare towns
Upton vs Sutton vs Shirley
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
9,452Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.2±14.6Lowest 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±8.8Lowest 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%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$108,494±$62kLowest 4% 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 |
$395,800±$50kLowest 30% 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±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$982±$797 44% below MA |
| Sutton and Shirley 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 |
$4,398Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.3%±15Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±17.7Lowest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.