Compare towns
Northbridge vs Douglas vs Whitman vs Sutton
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).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Douglas | Whitman | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,207Lowest |
15,295 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Whitman 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas 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 20% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Whitman and Douglas 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
7.2Lowest |
— | 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.