Compare towns
Sutton vs Princeton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Princeton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,529Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Princeton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Princeton and Sutton 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 |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Sutton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% 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 |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Wachusett | 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.