Compare towns
Hancock vs Northbridge vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Richmond has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
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 | Hancock | Northbridge | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
62.1±3Highest 55% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.8%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$106,250±$24k about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$584,500±$51kHighest 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,593±$299Highest 10% below MA |
| Richmond and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$5,575Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
14%±36.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.1%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Richmond 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hancock | Northbridge | Richmond |
| 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 |
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.