Compare towns
Sutton vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Jay | Millbury | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
471Lowest |
13,961 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%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. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury 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 82% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest 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. |
2001Highest 21 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. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sutton 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 | — | #202 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Millbury | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.