Compare towns
Sutton vs Freeport vs Millbury 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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Freeport | Millbury | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,802Lowest |
13,961 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Millbury 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Millbury 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Millbury 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. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Freeport 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Millbury and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #202 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 05 | Millbury | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Freeport High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.2 |
11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.