What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

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	Westborough
People
Population	16,458Lowest	21,944Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+18%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westborough and Northbridge 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%	15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Westborough 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%	65.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Westborough 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	$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA
	Westborough 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±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$9,983Highest 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Westborough 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%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.8%Lowest 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 minHighest 7% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#226 of 282 in MA	#21 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Westborough
High school in town	Northbridge High	Westborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.8Highest
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.