What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Deerfield	Northbridge
People
Population	5,158Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
	Northbridge and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
	Deerfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest about the MA average	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Northbridge
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.8Lowest
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.