Compare towns
Northbridge vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,372Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 38% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Strafford School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.