Compare towns
Northbridge vs Abington vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Abington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Abington | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
17,053Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Abington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Abington | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Abington High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.3 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.