What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Sturbridge
People
Population	16,458Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Northbridge 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%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Sturbridge 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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 20% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Northbridge and Sturbridge 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	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Northbridge High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.