What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Stoughton	Northbridge
People
Population	29,225Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA
	Stoughton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Highest 4% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Stoughton 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	#196 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Northbridge
High school in town	Stoughton High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.