Compare towns
Northbridge vs Chaplin vs Sutton vs Millbury
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Chaplin | Sutton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,452 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Millbury 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Millbury 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Chaplin 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sutton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Parish Hill High School | Sutton High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
7.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.



