Compare towns
Northbridge vs Whitman vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Whitman | Windham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
15,295 |
16,038 |
9,452Lowest |
| 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. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% 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. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson | Windham School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Windham High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.