Compare towns

Groton vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks vs Norwell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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.

MeasureGrotonSuttonWindsor LocksNorwell
People
Population
11,390
9,452Lowest
12,579Highest
11,361
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.7
6% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
39.2±1.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
Sutton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.3%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.5%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$192,958±$27kHighest
139% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$188,699±$25k
134% above U.S.
Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$743,400±$46k
123% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$865,700±$35kHighest
160% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,458±$335
3% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$2,215±$336Highest
57% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.8%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
67.1%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Norwell and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
27.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.1%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Groton and Norwell 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 #39 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #80 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Sutton Windsor Locks School District Norwell
High school in town Groton Dunstable Regional Sutton High School Windsor Locks High School Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.7Highest
12.6
8.9Lowest
11.7
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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.