Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Northbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Lunenburg | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
16,458Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.