Compare towns
Dudley vs Northbridge vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Dudley | Northbridge | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
16,458Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Whitman 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.