Compare towns
Northbridge vs Oxford vs Webster
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 expensive homes ($449k median).
Oxford has the most homeowners (82.8%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Oxford | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
13,385Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Oxford 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% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford 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% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Webster 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 |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Northbridge and Oxford 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 |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$4,622 23% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Oxford | Webster |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Oxford High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.