Compare towns
Northbridge vs Danielson vs Plainville
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 expensive homes ($449k median).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Danielson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
4,209Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Danielson 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% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Plainville 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. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Danielson 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. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Plainville 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.