Compare towns
Millbury vs Northbridge vs Townsend
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%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
16,458Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Townsend 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$13k 14% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Millbury 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Millbury and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Northbridge | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.