Compare towns
Sutton vs Hardwick vs Douglas vs Northbridge
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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Hardwick | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,684Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Douglas 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Douglas 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Douglas and Northbridge 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Quabbin | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.