Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Sutton | Newfields | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,452 |
2,023Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% 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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Grafton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Sutton 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 | Newfields School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6 |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.