Compare towns
Northbridge vs Stoneham vs Wakefield 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).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Stoneham | Wakefield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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 MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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 7% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Wakefield 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 |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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 |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
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.