Compare towns

Millbury vs Marblehead vs Sutton vs Northbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).

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.

MeasureMillburyMarbleheadSuttonNorthbridge
People
Population
13,961
20,413Highest
9,452Lowest
16,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±3.1Lowest
7% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
43.8±2.6
9% above MA
Kids under 18
20.9%±3
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
36.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,790±$13k
14% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% above MA
$111,319±$19kLowest
7% above MA
Marblehead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,100±$19k
20% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
$448,600±$15kLowest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,623±$232
8% below MA
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,207±$102
31% below MA
Marblehead and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,406
10% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,763
13% above MA
$4,821Lowest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Northbridge and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.4%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
1 yr newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
14.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
16.2%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #202 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #226 of 282 in MA
School district Millbury Marblehead Sutton Northbridge
High school in town Millbury Junior/Senior High Marblehead High Sutton High School Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
10.7Lowest
12.6Highest
10.8
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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.