Compare towns
Millbury vs Rowe 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 the shortest commute (29 min average).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Rowe | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
453Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Rowe and Northbridge 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe 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% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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 |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% 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 |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% 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 |
$1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Millbury and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 10% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest 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 |
| School district | Millbury | Rowe | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town | 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.