Compare towns
Millbury vs Northbridge vs Stoneham
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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
16,458 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Millbury 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Millbury and Stoneham 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Northbridge | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.