Compare towns
Northbridge vs Mansfield vs Peabody 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).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Mansfield | Peabody | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
23,931 |
54,695Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Peabody 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Peabody 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 |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Mansfield 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 |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Mansfield and Peabody 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 |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Peabody and Mansfield 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 |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Mansfield | Peabody | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Mansfield High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.