Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Townsend vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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.
| Measure | Fairhaven | Townsend | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
9,100Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Townsend and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | North Middlesex | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | North Middlesex Regional | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.