Compare towns
Northbridge vs Pelham 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 renters (29.5% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Pelham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
14,449 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Northbridge 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Pelham 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Pelham School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Pelham High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.