Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Suffield vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Suffield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,702Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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 19% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Suffield School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Suffield High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.