What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	16,458Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Northbridge 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%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA
	Wilbraham 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	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
	Northbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
	Northbridge and Wilbraham 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	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Northbridge High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	14.2Highest
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.