Compare towns
Sutton vs Kennebunk vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Kennebunk | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
11,820 |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Kennebunk 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. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Northbridge 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. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 21 | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Kennebunk High School | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.