Compare towns
Northbridge vs Orange vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Orange | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
7,573 |
776Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
| Warwick and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Northbridge 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Warwick 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
| Northbridge and Warwick 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
| Warwick and Northbridge 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Warwick |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.