What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Wareham
People
Population	16,458Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham 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±$19kHighest 7% above MA	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA
	Northbridge and Wareham 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	$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA
	Northbridge and Wareham 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	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 20% below MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham 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%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Wareham
High school in town	Northbridge High	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	8.6Lowest
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.