Compare towns
Sutton vs Thompson vs Northbridge vs Douglas
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 most expensive homes ($523k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Thompson | Northbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,337 |
16,458Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thompson School District | Northbridge | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northbridge High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
7.9 |
10.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.