Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Pelham 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Upton | Pelham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
14,449 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Pelham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Pelham 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pelham School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Pelham High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
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.