Compare towns
Ashland vs Northbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Ashland | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.