Compare towns
Sutton vs Norfolk vs Lancaster 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).
Norfolk has the most expensive homes ($725k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Norfolk | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
11,673 |
8,606Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Northbridge 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% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Lancaster and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
2.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | King Philip · Millis | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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.