What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).

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	Templeton	Northbridge
People
Population	8,252Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353 31% below MA	$1,207±$102 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Lowest 24% below MA	$4,821Highest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Northbridge
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.8Lowest
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.