Compare towns
Northbridge vs Bethlehem vs Sutton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Bethlehem | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
3,423Lowest |
9,452 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Bethlehem 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 38% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% 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 | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Regional School District 14 | 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 |
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.