What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Northbridge
People
Population	5,737Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
	Bolton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Northbridge
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.