Compare towns
Sutton vs Willington vs Putnam 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%).
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Willington | Putnam | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
5,575Lowest |
9,292 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12k 13% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,357±$116Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Willington 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. |
$5,419 74% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Northbridge 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Willington School District | Putnam School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.