Compare towns
Uxbridge vs Needham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Uxbridge has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Uxbridge | Needham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,473Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Northbridge 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 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,555±$265 12% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #183 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Uxbridge | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Uxbridge High | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.