Compare towns
Northbridge vs Newfields vs Exeter 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 most affordable homes ($449k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Exeter | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,023Lowest |
16,151 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Exeter 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.