Compare towns
Sutton vs Chilmark vs Needham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Needham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 42% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Needham High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.9 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.