What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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	Pelham	Northbridge
People
Population	14,449Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pelham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
	Pelham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Pelham High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.