Compare towns
Northbridge vs Middlesex vs Whitinsville
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Whitinsville has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Whitinsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,943Lowest |
7,115 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Whitinsville 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitinsville and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$96,145±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$449,600±$22kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitinsville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,197±$112Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Whitinsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.