Compare towns
Sutton vs Reading vs Northbridge vs Oxford
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Reading | Northbridge | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
699Lowest |
16,458Highest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northbridge | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.