Compare towns
Sutton vs Windham vs Webster 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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Windham | Webster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
16,038 |
17,748Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 57% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Windham School District | Webster | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Windham High School | Bartlett High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.6 |
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.