Compare towns

Northbridge vs Sutton vs Chaplin

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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeSuttonChaplin
People
Population
16,458Highest
9,452
2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.7±4.8Lowest
12% 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%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Northbridge and Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chaplin 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin 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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% 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.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102
15% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
Chaplin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Chaplin 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 Sutton Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town Northbridge High Sutton High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8
12.6Highest
7.5Lowest
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.