Compare towns
Hampton vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Hampton | Northbridge | Sutton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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 | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Hampton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Northbridge | Sutton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.