Compare towns
Northbridge vs Ware vs Ware vs Millbury
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).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Ware | Ware | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
6,369Lowest |
10,048 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Millbury 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 MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Ware 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 7% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury 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±$15k 20% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
| Millbury 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 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Ware | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.