Compare towns
Northbridge vs Berlin vs Sutton vs Whitman
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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Berlin | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
3,378Lowest |
9,452 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Berlin 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 |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Whitman 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 |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Berlin 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Berlin-Boylston | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | 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 |
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.