Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Northbridge vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
East Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($381k 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 | Buzzards Bay | Northbridge | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
16,458Highest |
2,166Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
52.1±6.4 30% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$81,042±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Northbridge and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$381,200±$30kLowest 32% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,142±$33Lowest 35% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$4,430 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Northbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.