Compare towns
Northbridge vs West Newbury vs Sutton
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).
West Newbury has the most expensive homes ($808k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | West Newbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
4,591Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
49.5±3Highest 24% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| West Newbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and West Newbury 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% |
21.3%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| West Newbury 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% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and West Newbury 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 |
$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| West Newbury 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 |
$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| West Newbury and Northbridge 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 |
$9,240Highest 54% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury 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% |
1.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| West Newbury 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 | #86 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Pentucket | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Pentucket Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.