What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	16,458Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA
	Northfield 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%	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northfield 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	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Northfield 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	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
	Northbridge and Northfield 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	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Northbridge High	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.