Compare towns
Sutton vs Boxford vs Putnam 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Boxford | Putnam | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,208Lowest |
9,292 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Boxford 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% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford 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% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford 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% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford 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. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% 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 | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Boxford · Masconomet | Putnam School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Masconomet Regional High School | Putnam High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.2 |
9.5Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.