Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hudson vs Sutton vs Grafton
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).
Hudson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Hudson | Sutton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
20,077Highest |
9,452Lowest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson 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 MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton 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 |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
| Grafton and Sutton 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA |
| Grafton and Hudson 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Hudson | Sutton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hudson High | Sutton High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.2Lowest |
12.6 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.