Compare towns
Millbury vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
25,612Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Northbridge 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$13k 14% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Reading and Millbury 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.