Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Northbridge vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Lunenburg | Northbridge | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
16,458Highest |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Northbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Lunenburg and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainville 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Northbridge | Plainville |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.