Compare towns
Sutton vs Deerfield vs Lancaster 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 highest household income ($147k).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Deerfield | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,932Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% 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% |
20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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. |
$131,563±$10k 63% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$421,000±$33kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,369Highest 136% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Deerfield School District | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.