Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Sutton vs Boylston vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Williamsburg | Sutton | Boylston | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
9,452Highest |
4,948 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 8% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Sutton | Berlin-Boylston | Pelham |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.