Compare towns
Sutton vs Charlton vs Windsor Locks 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%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Charlton | Windsor Locks | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
13,435 |
12,579 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Windsor Locks 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. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Charlton 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. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton 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. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% 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. |
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. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Windsor Locks School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Windsor Locks High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
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.