What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Brookfield	Northbridge
People
Population	3,460Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA
	Northbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,092Highest 15% below MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Brookfield 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	#109 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookfield	Northbridge
High school in town	None in town	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
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.