Compare towns
Coventry vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Coventry | Northbridge | Sutton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 17% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 69% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 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 | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Columbia 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Northbridge | Sutton | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.8 |
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.