Compare towns
Sutton vs Sandgate 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).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Sandgate | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
435Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
| 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±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 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. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below 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. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% 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±$401Lowest 16% 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. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 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. |
27 minLowest 3% above 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% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Nashoba | 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 | 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.