Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Upton 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
17,748Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.