Compare towns
Northbridge vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Wells | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
11,713 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Wells and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Wells High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.4 |
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.