Compare towns
Sutton vs Dedham vs Northbridge vs Grafton
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Dedham | Northbridge | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
25,237Highest |
16,458 |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dedham | Northbridge | Grafton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Dedham High | Northbridge High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.