Compare towns
Sutton vs Stafford vs Windsor Locks 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).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stafford | Windsor Locks | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
11,511 |
12,579 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$263,800±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Stafford School District | Windsor Locks School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Stafford High School | Windsor Locks High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.