Compare towns
Deerfield vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Deerfield | Northbridge | Sutton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 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+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Northbridge | Sutton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.