Compare towns
Westborough vs Sutton vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Northborough has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Westborough | Sutton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,944Highest |
9,452 |
6,392Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.8±3.1Highest 22% above MA |
| Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Westborough and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,944±$12k 37% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$133,839±$23kLowest 29% above MA |
| Sutton and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$560,500±$35k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,135±$202Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,983Highest 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,432 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±22.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.3%±11.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Westborough and Northborough 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 | #21 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westborough | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Westborough High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.