Compare towns
Northfield vs Northbridge vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Northbridge | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
16,458Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Northbridge and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Northbridge and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Northbridge | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.