Compare towns
Northbridge vs Epping vs Sutton vs Whitinsville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Whitinsville has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Epping | Sutton | Whitinsville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
7,430 |
9,452 |
7,115Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
38.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitinsville 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitinsville and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$96,145±$15kLowest 19% 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$449,600±$22k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,197±$112 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and Northbridge 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Northbridge 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Epping School District | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Epping High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.3Lowest |
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.