Compare towns
Sutton vs Florida vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Florida | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
668Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Florida | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.