Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Union 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Union | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,452 |
944Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +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. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Union and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% 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% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Whitman 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 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 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 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 | Sutton | Union School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town | 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.