Compare towns
Sutton vs Bethlehem vs Northbridge vs Grafton
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%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Northbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Bethlehem | Northbridge | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,423Lowest |
16,458 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Bethlehem 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. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Grafton 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. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Grafton 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. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Regional School District 14 | Northbridge | Grafton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.