Compare towns
Northbridge vs Webster vs Sutton
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Webster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,227Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Webster 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 |
| School district | Northbridge | Merrimack Valley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.