Compare towns
Sutton vs Salisbury vs Douglas 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Salisbury | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,281 |
9,207Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Douglas 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 |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Sutton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Salisbury and Douglas 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Triton | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.