Compare towns
Northbridge vs Putney vs Randolph 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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Putney | Randolph | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Randolph 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Whitman 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Whitman 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.