Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainville vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Plainville | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,943 |
5,448Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainville | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.