Compare towns
Sutton vs Whiting vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Northbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Whiting | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
532Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Sturbridge 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. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Whiting 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. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.