Compare towns
Sutton vs Bristol vs Northbridge vs Lancaster
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).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Bristol | Northbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
61,462Highest |
16,458 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Bristol 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Bristol 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bristol School District | Northbridge | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bristol Central High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.