What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).

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	Fairhaven
People
Population	16,458Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
	Fairhaven 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 MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Fairhaven 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 7% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Northbridge and Fairhaven 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	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Northbridge and Fairhaven 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	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Fairhaven
High school in town	Northbridge High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.