Compare towns
Northbridge vs Brookline vs Raynham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Northbridge | Brookline | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,736Lowest |
15,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1.5 10% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Raynham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$124,012±$16k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$524,400±$29k 58% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,749±$74 24% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,752 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Raynham and Northbridge 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Brookline School District | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | 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.

