What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freeport	Northbridge
People
Population	8,802Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Freeport and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Freeport and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Northbridge
High school in town	Freeport High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.