Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sterling 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 people working from home (16.2%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Sterling | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
3,629Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% 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±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sterling 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.