Compare towns
Sutton vs Central Falls 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).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Central Falls | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
22,701Highest |
9,960 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls 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% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below 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. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Central Falls 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. |
$3,744Lowest 20% 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% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 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. |
27 minLowest 4% above 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% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Central Falls Sr High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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.