Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Mansfield vs Whitman
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Sutton | Mansfield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
23,931Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Whitman 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 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Mansfield 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Whitman 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Mansfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
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| 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.