Compare towns
Sutton vs Oakham 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Oakham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,639Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Oakham 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| 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 13% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 |
| School district | Sutton | Quabbin | 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 |
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.