Compare towns
Northbridge vs Thompson vs Putnam
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,337 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Putnam 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Northbridge 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Thompson School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.