Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hampton vs Exeter vs Millbury
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 most kids (21.1% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hampton | Exeter | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
16,426 |
16,151 |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 38% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Exeter 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.