Compare towns
Northbridge vs Raynham vs Salem
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Raynham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
15,505Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Raynham 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% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Raynham 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham and Salem 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% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Raynham 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 |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Salem and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Bridgewater-Raynham | Salem |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.