What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Woburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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	Woburn
People
Population	16,458Lowest	41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Woburn 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%	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Woburn 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%	46.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Woburn 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	$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Woburn 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	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$5,354Highest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Woburn and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9% MA: 10%	7.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Woburn 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	#169 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Woburn
High school in town	Northbridge High	Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.2Highest
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.