Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanover 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Hanover | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
14,845 |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Hanover 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% 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 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.3 |
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.