Compare towns
Middleborough vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Middleborough | Northbridge | Sutton | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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+ | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Saugus and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Northbridge | Sutton | Saugus |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
12.6 |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.