Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Salisbury | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
4,224Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Northbridge 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% |
19.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$124,256±$26kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Northbridge 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. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Whitman 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. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #19 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salisbury School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.