What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most homeowners (76.5%).

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

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	Rockland	Northbridge
People
Population	17,701Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,405±$12kHighest 8% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Rockland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,900±$21kHighest 16% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
	Rockland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Highest 9% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Highest 8% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rockland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Rockland 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	#175 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Northbridge
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	10.8Lowest
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.