Compare towns
Millbury vs Northbridge vs Ware
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
16,458Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Northbridge and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Ware 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±$19k 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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±$102 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 10% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Northbridge | Ware |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Northbridge High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.