Compare towns
Millbury vs Northbridge vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
16,458 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Millbury | Northbridge | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.