Compare towns
Sutton vs Exeter vs Wilbraham 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Exeter | Wilbraham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
16,151 |
14,572 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #88 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Exeter High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.1 |
14.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.