Compare towns
Sutton vs Melrose 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 homeowners (89.7%).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Melrose | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
29,650Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose 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 42% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Melrose 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 |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Melrose | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Melrose High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.