What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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	Milford	Northbridge
People
Population	30,431Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Milford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest about the MA average	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Milford 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	#213 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Northbridge
High school in town	Milford High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.