Compare towns
Brookline vs Newfields 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Brookline | Newfields | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,023Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 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+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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 | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 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 | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Newfields School District | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | 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.