Compare towns
Mapleton vs Northbridge vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Mapleton | Northbridge | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Northbridge | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.