What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover	Northbridge
People
Population	11,685Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 120 in NH	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Hanover High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.