Compare towns
Northbridge vs Whitman vs Whitinsville
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Whitinsville has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Whitinsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
15,295 |
7,115Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
38.8±6Lowest 3% below MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitinsville 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitinsville and Whitman 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 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$96,145±$15kLowest 8% below MA |
| 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±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$449,600±$22k 20% below MA |
| Whitman and Whitinsville 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 |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,197±$112Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,793Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.3%Lowest 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 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Whitinsville 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 | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | — |
| 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.