Compare towns
Northbridge vs Whitman vs Rockland
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%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Rockland has the most homeowners (76.5%).
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 | Whitman | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
17,701Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Rockland 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Rockland 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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$112,405±$12kHighest 8% above MA |
| Rockland 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 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$472,900±$21kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rockland and Whitman 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 |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,610±$255 9% below MA |
| Whitman and Rockland 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,487Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
76.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Rockland 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson | Rockland |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.