Compare towns
Sutton vs Ashfield vs Sturbridge vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Ashfield | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,893Lowest |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 42% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mohawk Trail | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.