Compare towns
Northbridge vs Ayer 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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Ayer | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$19k 7% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 7.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.5 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.