Compare towns
Wellesley vs Northbridge vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Wellesley | Northbridge | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
16,458Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Northbridge | — |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Northbridge High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
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.