Compare towns
Whitman vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks 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
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Whitman | Sutton | Windsor Locks | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,295 |
9,452Lowest |
12,579 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% 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 | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Windsor Locks 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Windsor Locks School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Windsor Locks High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.