Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainfield vs Millbury
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 renters (29.5% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,522Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Millbury 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Millbury 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.