Compare towns
Northbridge vs Gardner vs Raynham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Gardner | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
21,148Highest |
15,505Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Raynham 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$19k 7% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham 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±$15k 20% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Gardner | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.