Compare towns
Sutton vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Northbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Northbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
25,358Highest |
16,458 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below 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. |
$335,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Douglas 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. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 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% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs 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 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Northbridge | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | E. O. Smith High School | Northbridge High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.8 |
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.