Compare towns
Millbury vs Orange vs Ware vs Northbridge
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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Orange | Ware | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
7,573 |
6,369Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% 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%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Northbridge 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 |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% 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 |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 10% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.