Population 5,392 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Northbridge
Household size in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.36 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Northbridge has 2.48 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.84 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.1 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.6 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.6 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Northbridge skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 39.1 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Northbridge (9.0%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Northbridge
Renters in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.2% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.3% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Northbridge is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 24.0% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Northbridge: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Northbridge are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are newer than in the Worcester area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1965. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $762 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $924 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $930 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,235 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$473 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northbridge costs $1,235 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $473 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 32.6% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Northbridge
Bachelor's degrees in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.8% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.7% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Northbridge than nationally: 39.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The picture is much the same across the Worcester area. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Northbridge have finished high school (91.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Worcester area. The share with a diploma is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Northbridge
| Period | Northbridge | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Northbridge than nationally: unemployment was 6.9%, against 5.4%. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 22 have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Northbridge compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northbridge | 2.48 | 46.6 | 9.0% | 18.8% | 4.9% | 1980 | $1,235 | 39.7% | 91.9% | 6.9% |
| South Grafton | 2.54 | 41.5 | 8.0% | 36.0% | 4.2% | 1976 | $1,380 | 47.2% | 94.9% | 4.1% |
| Whitinsville | 2.47 | 41.8 | 14.7% | 34.9% | 7.3% | 1969 | $1,221 | 36.7% | 93.7% | 4.8% |
| Linwood | 2.41 | 44.2 | 16.5% | 28.5% | 8.6% | 1964 | $1,235 | 32.1% | 86.6% | 7.3% |
| Upton | 2.77 | 45.6 | 14.9% | 14.0% | 2.4% | 1972 | $739 | 51.4% | 97.8% | 6.5% |
| Grafton | 2.65 | 41.7 | 5.3% | 26.9% | 4.0% | 1988 | $1,571 | 62.2% | 96.1% | 2.3% |
| Sutton | 2.78 | 44.7 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 7.6% | 1979 | $1,239 | 52.0% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Uxbridge | 2.61 | 42.8 | 8.5% | 20.2% | 2.3% | 1975 | $1,402 | 37.1% | 94.5% | 4.4% |
| North Milford | 2.48 | 49.9 | 6.5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1990 | $2,039 | 59.5% | 97.4% | 5.9% |
| North Grafton | 2.61 | 39.8 | 7.7% | 18.5% | 4.0% | 1973 | $1,556 | 55.9% | 95.7% | 5.5% |
| Hopedale | 2.73 | 44.1 | 9.0% | 20.4% | 9.4% | 1951 | $1,898 | 47.8% | 94.6% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Moon Lake, FL · Morrisville, VT · Morriston, FL · Morrisonville, NY · Morrison, TN · Morris, MN · Morris, AL · Morganton, GA · Morgans Point Resort, TX · Morganfield, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Northbridge. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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