What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

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	Warren
People
Population	16,458Highest	5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA
	Northbridge and Warren 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%	20.8%±8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Warren 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%	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Warren 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	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA	$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 20% below MA	$4,530Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Warren 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%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Quaboag Regional
High school in town	Northbridge High	Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.0Lowest
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.