What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	York	Northbridge
People
Population	13,986Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	York and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northbridge and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
	York and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	York and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	York and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 133 in ME	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	York Public Schools	Northbridge
High school in town	York High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.