Compare towns
Northbridge vs Strafford vs Sutton vs Whitman
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%).
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 | Strafford | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,372Lowest |
9,452 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% 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% |
21.1%±3.5 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% 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. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Whitman 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest 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% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Strafford School District | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.