Compare towns
Springfield vs Northbridge vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Springfield | Northbridge | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
16,458Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Northbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Northbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.