Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
11,685 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hanover High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.