What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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	Charlton
People
Population	16,458Highest	13,435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Charlton 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 MA: 47.3%	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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 7% above MA	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 20% below MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Northbridge High	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.