Compare towns
Sutton vs Atkinson vs Lancaster vs Northbridge
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 highest household income ($147k).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Atkinson | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,267Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Lancaster 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% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson 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. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Atkinson 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% |
1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Timberlane Regional School District | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.