Compare towns
Cornish vs Northbridge vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Hiram has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Cornish | Northbridge | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,803 |
16,458Highest |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.6±10.2 7% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,038±$4k 14% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$62,813±$10kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$84k 18% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$256,600±$42kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,196±$148 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,070±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,309 26% below U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,106Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hiram and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Northbridge | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.