Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sturbridge 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,960Lowest |
15,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest 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 |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Raynham 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Northbridge 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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| 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.