Compare towns
Newton vs Northbridge vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Newton | Northbridge | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
16,458Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Newton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Northbridge | Strafford School District |
| 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 Our Story | 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.