Compare towns
Whitman 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
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Whitman | Amesbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
17,403Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Whitman and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Amesbury 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Amesbury | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
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.