What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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	Charlton	Northbridge
People
Population	13,435Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 8% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$4,821Highest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Northbridge
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.