Compare towns
Northfield vs Sutton vs Oakham vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Northfield | Sutton | Oakham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
9,452Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
| Ashby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ashby 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Sutton | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.