Compare towns
Sutton vs Plainville vs Lancaster 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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Plainville | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
17,551Highest |
8,606Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Northbridge 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.