Compare towns
Mansfield vs Northbridge vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Middletown has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% 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.
| Measure | Mansfield | Northbridge | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358 |
16,458Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.1±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middletown and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,438±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$295,300±$11kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,446±$45 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,412Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Northbridge | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Northbridge High | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.