What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Newburyport	Northborough
People
Population	18,652Highest	15,750Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA	45±3Lowest 13% above MA
	Newburyport and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67%Highest MA: 47.3%	65.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,625±$21kLowest 34% above MA	$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA
	Northborough and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA	$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,592±$221Lowest 10% below MA	$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA
	Northborough and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,944Lowest 33% above MA	$7,983Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northborough and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Newburyport and Northborough 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	#56 of 282 in MA	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Newburyport	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Newburyport High	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.8Highest
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.