Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sturbridge vs Plainfield
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 most expensive homes ($449k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,960Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.