Compare towns
Sutton vs Lyman vs Northbridge vs Douglas
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 most expensive homes ($523k median).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lyman | Northbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,612Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman 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% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 82% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Northbridge | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.