Compare towns

Moretown vs Northbridge vs Barnard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureMoretownNorthbridgeBarnard
People
Population
1,532
16,458Highest
1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±3.8Highest
20% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
42.4±6Lowest
9% above U.S.
Moretown and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,423±$7k
29% above U.S.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
Northbridge and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$380,800±$36kLowest
14% above U.S.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$402,600±$71k
21% above U.S.
Northbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$838±$462Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,207±$102
15% below U.S.
$1,372±$80Highest
about the U.S. average
Barnard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,506
77% above U.S.
$4,821Lowest
55% above U.S.
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.1%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Moretown and Barnard 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 —
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Northbridge Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town Northbridge High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8
—
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.