Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Plainville 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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Webster | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
17,748Highest |
17,551 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Plainville High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
11.4 |
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.