What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	16,458Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover 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%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Highest 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.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#226 of 282 in MA	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Northbridge	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Northbridge High	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.