Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Washington 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Washington | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189 |
1,208Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 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. |
$358,600±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest 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. |
1983Highest 3 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 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— | 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.