What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	16,458Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Northbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Northbridge 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	North Middlesex
High school in town	Northbridge High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.