Compare towns

Chilmark 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

Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

MeasureChilmarkNorthbridgeSutton
People
Population
1,578Lowest
16,458Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
43.8±2.6Lowest
9% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
Chilmark and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.2%±12.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
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
$168,750±$28kHighest
62% above MA
$111,319±$19kLowest
7% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% above MA
Chilmark and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$448,600±$15kLowest
20% below MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,207±$102
31% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
Chilmark and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,485Lowest
25% below MA
$4,821
20% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1973Lowest
9 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
8% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
25.7%±11Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
Chilmark and Sutton 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 Up-Island Regional 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

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.