Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salem vs Raynham
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Salem | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
44,795Highest |
15,505Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% 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 |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salem | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Salem High | None in town |
| 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.