Compare towns
Norfolk vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Norfolk | Northbridge | Sutton | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% 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 | $430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Northbridge | Sutton | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.