Compare towns
Northbridge vs Walpole vs Sutton vs Amesbury
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Walpole | Sutton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
26,388Highest |
9,452Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Amesbury 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 7% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Walpole 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 20% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sutton | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Walpole High | Sutton High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.3 |
12.6Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.