Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Wilbraham
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 people working from home (22.7%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,452Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.