Compare towns
Northbridge vs Acton vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Northbridge | Acton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
24,155Highest |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Acton-Boxborough | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.