Compare towns

Sutton vs Waterville 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureSuttonWatervilleNorthbridge
People
Population
9,452
680Lowest
16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
Waterville 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%
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Northbridge and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Northbridge 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%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville 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.
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
$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.
$236,300±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% 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
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Sutton 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Northbridge 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 — #226 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Northbridge
High school in town Sutton High School None in town Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.