Compare towns
Barnard vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Barnard | Northbridge | Sutton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Barnard 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northbridge | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.