Compare towns
Franklin vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Franklin | Northbridge | Sutton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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 | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 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 | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 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 | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Northbridge | Sutton | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.