What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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	Kingston	Northbridge
People
Population	6,275Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Kingston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Kingston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,906Highest 153% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Sanborn Regional School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Sanborn Regional High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.8Lowest
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.