What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Mansfield	Northbridge
People
Population	23,931Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 21% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Northbridge
High school in town	Mansfield High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.