Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainville vs Merrimac
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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,943 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Merrimac 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% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Plainville 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% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainville | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
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| 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.