What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westborough	Northbridge
People
Population	21,944Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westborough and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Westborough and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,983Highest 67% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Westborough	Northbridge
High school in town	Westborough High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.