Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Fairhaven | Lancaster | Sutton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903 |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest 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+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest 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 | $95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Nashoba | Sutton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | None in town | Sutton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.