Compare towns
Washington vs Northbridge vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Northbridge | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526 |
16,458Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Middlefield 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 | — |
| School district | — | Northbridge | — |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.