Compare towns
Eliot vs Plainville vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
9,943 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #102 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainville | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.