Compare towns
Northbridge vs Chicopee 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
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
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 | Chicopee | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
55,295Highest |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee 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% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% 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±$15k 20% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Chicopee | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
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.