Compare towns
Northbridge vs Bow vs Millbury vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Millbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Northbridge | Bow | Millbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,335Lowest |
13,961 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Millbury 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 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Bow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Bow 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. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Millbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Bow School District | Millbury | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Bow High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.3 |
12.6 |
| 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.