Compare towns
Millbury vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.
| Measure | Millbury | Reading | Sutton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
25,612Highest |
9,452Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% 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 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%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% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest 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 | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% 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 |
1960Lowest 4 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 |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Sutton 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | — | Sutton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — | Sutton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.