Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hadley 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).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hadley | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,306Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Hadley and Millbury 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 |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Hadley 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
6.4% 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 |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Hadley | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hopkins Academy | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
7.3Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.