Compare towns
Northbridge vs Temple vs Middleton
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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Temple | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,363Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Temple 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Middleton 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleton and Temple 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Middleton 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. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
| Middleton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Temple 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Contoocook Valley School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.