Compare towns
Millbury vs Bernardston vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Millbury | Bernardston | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
2,164Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Bernardston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Millbury and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 10% below MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Pioneer Valley | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.