Compare towns

Northbridge vs Webster 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 most people working from home (16.2%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeWebsterMillbury
People
Population
16,458
17,748Highest
13,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
9% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±3.1
7% above MA
Northbridge and Millbury 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%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millbury and Webster 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%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Webster and Millbury 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
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% 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
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% 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±$102Lowest
31% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,623±$232Highest
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821
20% below MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$5,406Highest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Northbridge and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
7% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Northbridge and Millbury 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 #271 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge Webster Millbury
High school in town Northbridge High Bartlett High School Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
11.6Highest
11.3
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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.