Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Northbridge vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Fitzwilliam | Northbridge | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278 |
16,458Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 66% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Northbridge | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.