Compare towns
Northbridge vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Dedham | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
25,237Highest |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dedham | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Dedham High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.