Compare towns
Avon 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
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Avon | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below 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 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.8 |
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.