Compare towns
Millbury vs Northbridge vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Northbridge | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
16,458 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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±$19k 20% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Northbridge 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 | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Northbridge | Salem |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.