Compare towns
Northbridge vs Danvers vs Millbury 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 most affordable homes ($449k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).
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 | Danvers | Millbury | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
28,098Highest |
13,961Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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±$19k 7% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Danvers and Millbury 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Whitman 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 |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Millbury | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.