Compare towns
Sutton vs Dublin vs Douglas 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).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Dublin | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,688Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Douglas 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% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin 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% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 82% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton 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. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Dublin 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. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Dublin 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Contoocook Valley School District | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
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.