Compare towns
Webster vs Sutton vs Reading vs Whitman
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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Sutton | Reading | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,452Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Sutton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Reading and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sutton | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.