Compare towns

Uxbridge vs Brookline vs Northbridge vs Douglas

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).

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.

MeasureUxbridgeBrooklineNorthbridgeDouglas
People
Population
14,473
5,736Lowest
16,458Highest
9,207
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.7±2.8
7% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
44±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Uxbridge and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,725±$7k
54% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$111,319±$19kLowest
38% above U.S.
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$441,100±$25kLowest
33% above U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,555±$265
10% above U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
Brookline and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,836
87% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,821Lowest
55% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.6%±5.5
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Douglas 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 #183 of 282 in MA #23 of 120 in NH #226 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA
School district Uxbridge Brookline School District Northbridge Douglas
High school in town Uxbridge High None in town Northbridge High Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
—
10.8
7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.