What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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	Woburn	Northbridge
People
Population	41,939Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Woburn and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,354Highest 11% below MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Woburn and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9% MA: 10%	7.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Woburn 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	#169 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Woburn	Northbridge
High school in town	Woburn High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	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.