Compare towns
Northbridge vs Worcester vs Sutton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
207,055Highest |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| 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 20% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | South High Community | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
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| 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.