Compare towns
Sutton vs Newfields vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Newfields | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,023Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Sturbridge 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 82% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Newfields School District | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.