Compare towns
Northbridge vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Rye | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,611Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury and Northbridge 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Rye 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.


