Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sharon 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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($737k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Sharon | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
18,574Highest |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Sharon 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% |
76.7%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% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Sharon 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 |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer 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 |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sharon | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sharon High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.