Compare towns
Sutton vs Mashpee vs Sturbridge vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Mashpee | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
15,384 |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Mashpee 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 42% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Mashpee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mashpee | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Mashpee Middle-High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.6 |
7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.