Compare towns
Sutton vs Cavendish vs Sturbridge 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Cavendish | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,242Lowest |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Sturbridge 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% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Cavendish 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. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 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.