Compare towns
Gloucester vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Gloucester | Northbridge | Sutton | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,075 |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 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+ | 27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Gloucester and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18kHighest 7% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Gloucester and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Northbridge | Sutton | Peabody |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.