Compare towns
West Springfield Town vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | West Springfield Town | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 28,772Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±2.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| West Springfield Town and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| West Springfield Town and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,500±$16kLowest 43% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and West Springfield Town 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 | #218 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | West Springfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | West Springfield High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
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.