What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most homeowners (70.5%).

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Dover
People
Population	16,458Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Dover 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%	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover 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%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover 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.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Dover 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.	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Dover 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.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Northbridge	Dover School District
High school in town	Northbridge High	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.