Compare towns
Sutton vs Acton vs Northbridge vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Acton | Northbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,721Lowest |
16,458Highest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Acton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Acton Public Schools | Northbridge | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.