Compare towns
Ellington 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
Ellington has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Ellington | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455 |
16,458Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Lowest 5% 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 | 24%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17k 61% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 116% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 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 | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ellington School District | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.8 |
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.