Compare towns
Northbridge vs Maynard vs Sutton vs Whitman
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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Maynard | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
10,712 |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Whitman 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.