Compare towns
Sutton vs Foster 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).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Foster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,523Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Foster 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Foster 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Foster 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. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Foster 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. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Foster and Northbridge 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. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Foster 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 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Foster | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | 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 |
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.