Compare towns
Northbridge vs Putney vs Randolph
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Randolph 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Putney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northbridge | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.