Compare towns
Webster vs Upton vs Sutton vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Southbridge Town has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Webster | Upton | Sutton | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
17,928Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.9±2.4 about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
19.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$66,287±$8k 36% below 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 | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$294,800±$18kLowest 48% 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 | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,256±$79Highest 29% below MA |
| Southbridge Town and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±8.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Southbridge Town and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
15.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Southbridge |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.