Compare towns
Berwick vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Berwick | Northbridge | Sutton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% 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 | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Sutton | — |
| High school 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.