Compare towns
Worcester vs Sutton vs Upton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Upton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.