Compare towns
Sutton vs Bedford 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Bedford | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
23,746Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Sutton 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. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Northbridge 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bedford School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bedford High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.