Town · Massachusetts
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough, town, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Northborough had 16,080 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,741 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,750 (±26). GEOID 2502746820.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,080
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,741 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,750 ±26
Median household income
$153,199
±$19,436 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$620,000
±$23,899 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,919
±$269 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Northborough and what county is it in?
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It covers 18.5 square miles of land, 852 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Northborough: Northborough (CDP, 6,474 in 2020).
Northborough is in the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Northborough, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,080 people lived in Northborough on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, in line with Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 15,741 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,750 (±26).
| Measure | Northborough | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,750±26 | 867,788 | +694 |
| Households | 5,929±233 | 335,826 | +530 |
| Average household size | 2.62±0.10 | 2.50 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 6,108±243 | 355,185 | +538 |
Northborough's population since 2000
From 14,013 in 2000 to 16,080 in 2025: up 14.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Northborough as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Northborough?
The median resident of Northborough is 45.0 years old; 21.6% are under 18 and 17.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.7%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 10.9%. 17.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Northborough | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0±3.0 | 40.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.6%±2.3 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.7%±1.7 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Male | 47.7%±2.1 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.2%±1.9 pts | 13.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 75.7%±3.8 pts | 70.3% | −7.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.9%±1.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 10.9%±2.1 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.2%±1.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±1.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.7%±3.2 pts | 14.5% | +4.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.0%±3.7 pts | 22.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0%±1.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 8.5%±1.8 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.9%±0.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0%±0.8 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 65.5%±3.8 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 34.1%±4.5 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.9%±3.4 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Northborough earn?
Half of Northborough's 5,929 households earn less than $153,199 a year (±$19,436), against $95,939 in Worcester County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $158,283 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Northborough | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $153,199±$19,436 | $95,939 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $208,169±$22,066 | $124,653 | – |
| Per capita income | $77,642±$8,026 | $48,914 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.7%±1.9 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.8%±5.0 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.1%±2.3 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.1%±0.7 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.5%±1.0 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Northborough?
Owners occupy 83.1% of Northborough's occupied homes and renters 16.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $620,000 by its owner (±$23,899). The median renter pays $1,919 a month including utilities, and 48.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Northborough | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $620,000±$23,899 | $423,700 | +$69,757 |
| Median gross rent | $1,919±$269 | $1,426 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.2%±16.4 pts | 40.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,174±$155 | $2,387 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.1%±4.0 pts | 65.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.9%±4.0 pts | 34.2% | – |
| Housing units | 6,108±243 | 355,185 | +538 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4%±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±4.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.8%±4.1 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.6%±2.9 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.3%±2.7 pts | 27.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9%±2.9 pts | 8.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Northborough building?
Builders took permits for 15 new housing units in Northborough in 2025 (15 in single-family houses), 0.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Northborough work and get to work?
66.6% of Northborough's workers drive alone and 22.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | Northborough | Worcester County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.0%±3.4 pts | 66.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0%±2.3 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.6%±4.9 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.9%±2.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1%±0.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.9%±1.4 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 22.5%±4.8 pts | 15.6% | +12.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.0 min±2.6 | 29.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Northborough?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Northborough (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $115,590 (Tract 7402) to $199,032 (Tract 7401.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7401.01Worcester County | 6,420 | $134,453 |
| Tract 7401.02Worcester County | 6,043 | $199,032 |
| Tract 7402Worcester County | 3,287 | $115,590 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Northborough) · Census block assignment files
How does Northborough compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Northborough is the 773rd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 55th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Northborough ranks 75th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 55th | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 120th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 221st | 461 |
| Median household income | 75th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 77th | 460 |
| Median home value | 155th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 106th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 281st | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81st | 459 |
| Median age | 216th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 184th | 460 |
| Work from home | 134th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 195th | 459 |
Northborough's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Northborough with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Northborough?
11 of the 57 figures for Northborough on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Northborough are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.