Compare towns
Northbridge vs Ashland vs Whitman
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Ashland | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
18,873Highest |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashland and Northbridge 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% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Ashland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Ashland 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% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Ashland | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Ashland High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.