Compare towns
Northbridge vs Durham vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Whitman has the most homeowners (71.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
10,681Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 35% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Durham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.