Compare towns
Kensington vs Northbridge vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Kensington | Northbridge | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,458Highest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37k 60% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 | Kensington School District | Northbridge | Shaker Regional 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 Our Story | 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.