Compare towns
Millbury vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Northbridge
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%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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 47% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% 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. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.5Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.