Compare towns

Northbridge vs Sterling vs Uxbridge

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 the shortest commute (31 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Uxbridge has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeSterlingUxbridge
People
Population
16,458Highest
3,629Lowest
14,473
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.7±2.8
7% above U.S.
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%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Uxbridge and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
$102,695±$12kLowest
27% above U.S.
$124,725±$7kHighest
54% above U.S.
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±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$441,100±$25k
33% above U.S.
Northbridge and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
—
$1,555±$265Highest
10% above U.S.
Uxbridge and Northbridge 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.
$4,551Lowest
46% above U.S.
$5,836Highest
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.6%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Sterling 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge and Uxbridge 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 #119 of 149 in CT #183 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge Sterling School District Uxbridge
High school in town Northbridge High None in town Uxbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
—
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.