Compare towns
Sutton vs Berlin vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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 highest household income ($147k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Berlin | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,378Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 17% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Berlin-Boylston | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.