What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Baldwin has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Baldwin
People
Population	16,458Highest	1,170Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	50.6±4.6Highest 30% above U.S.
	Baldwin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Baldwin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.	$68,045±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.	$263,200±$38kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102 15% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.	$2,540Lowest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge and Baldwin 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	Northbridge	—
High school in town	Northbridge High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.