Compare towns
Sutton vs Rockland 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).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Rockland | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,035Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rockland 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% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest 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% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% 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. |
$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Northbridge 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oceanside High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.