Compare towns
Northbridge vs Middleton vs Stoughton
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Middleton | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,816Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Stoughton 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% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Middleton 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Stoughton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Middleton | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.