Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salem vs Uxbridge
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Uxbridge has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
44,795Highest |
14,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| Northbridge and Uxbridge 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% |
19.5%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Uxbridge 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Salem and Uxbridge 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% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,725±$7kHighest 20% above MA |
| Uxbridge 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±$15k 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
| Salem and Uxbridge 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 |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Northbridge 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salem | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Salem High | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.