Compare towns
Sutton vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($147k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,758Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.