Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
11,685Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Northbridge 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% |
88.2%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% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Whitman 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.