What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).

West Newbury has the most expensive homes ($808k 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	West Newbury
People
Population	16,458Highest	4,591Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and West Newbury 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%	21.3%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	West Newbury 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and West Newbury 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	$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA
	West Newbury 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	$9,240Highest 54% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury 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%	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Newbury 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	#86 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Pentucket
High school in town	Northbridge High	Pentucket Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.