Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Chaplin vs Grafton
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).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Chaplin | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,452 |
2,070Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%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±4.8 12% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest 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% |
5.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Grafton 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. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Grafton 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Chaplin 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% 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% |
45.1%±12.5 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% |
6.3% 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% |
73.2% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% 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% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | — | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Parish Hill High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
12.6 |
7.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.