Compare towns
Northbridge vs Millis vs Plainfield
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).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Millis | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,888Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Millis 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Plainfield 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Millis 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Northbridge 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northbridge | Millis | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Millis High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.