Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Dover 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Mendon | Dover | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,325 |
2,308Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 42% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
— | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mendon-Upton | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.