What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	16,458Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Douglas 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%	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
	Douglas and Northbridge 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	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Douglas
High school in town	Northbridge High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	7.2Lowest
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.