Compare towns
Northbridge vs Needham vs Whitman
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Needham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
32,459Highest |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Whitman 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 7% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Needham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.