Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Durham | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kLowest 23% 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 | $322,200±$34kLowest 3% 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 | $3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest 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 | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 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 | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 05 | 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.