Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,452Lowest |
16,038 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Windham 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%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% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Windham School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6 |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.