Compare towns

Sutton vs Bowdoinham 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).
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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.

MeasureSuttonBowdoinhamNorthbridge
People
Population
9,452
3,142Lowest
16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
51.9±13.1Highest
33% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
Bowdoinham 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%
17.5%±6.8Lowest
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%
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bowdoinham 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Sutton 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.
$108,479±$21kLowest
34% above U.S.
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$405,500±$105kLowest
22% above U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
—
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$2,958Lowest
5% below U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22%±11.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Bowdoinham 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 #73 of 133 in ME #226 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton RSU 75/MSAD 75 Northbridge
High school in town Sutton High School None in town Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.