Compare towns
Sutton vs Mapleton vs Thompson 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Mapleton | Thompson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,884Lowest |
9,337 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.