Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Whitman has the most homeowners (71.4%).
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 | Salem | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
44,795Highest |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| 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±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Salem and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salem | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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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.