What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Lenox
People
Population	16,458Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox 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 7% above MA	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA
	Lenox and Northbridge 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	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
	Northbridge and Lenox 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	$5,299Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Lenox
High school in town	Northbridge High	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	7.6Lowest
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.