Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Townsend 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
9,100 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | North Middlesex Regional | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.