Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Upton vs Whately
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 renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Upton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Upton 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$977±$125 45% below MA |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whately |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.