What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Chaplin
People
Population	16,458Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Chaplin 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%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin 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.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Chaplin 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin 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	—
School district	Northbridge	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Northbridge High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	7.5Lowest
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.