Compare towns
Sutton vs North Reading vs Northbridge vs Douglas
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%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | North Reading | Northbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,765 |
16,458Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Douglas 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and North Reading 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| North Reading and Douglas 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | North Reading | Northbridge | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | North Reading High | Northbridge High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.1 |
10.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.