Compare towns
Northbridge vs Douglas 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).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,207Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Whitman 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% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Whitman 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Douglas 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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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.