Compare towns
Norfolk vs Northbridge vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Norfolk | Northbridge | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
16,458Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Norfolk 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Northbridge | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.