Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Northbridge vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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.

MeasureBowdoinNorthbridgeSutton
People
Population
3,188Lowest
16,458Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±10Highest
14% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.1%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,239±$13kLowest
13% above U.S.
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above 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
$292,800±$71kLowest
12% below U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% 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
$3,375Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
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
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
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 #28 of 133 in ME #226 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 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

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.