Compare towns
Northbridge vs Newfields vs Whitman 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Newfields | Whitman | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,023Lowest |
15,295 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Whitman 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Newfields School District | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.