Compare towns

Northbridge vs Whitman vs Woonsocket

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%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureNorthbridgeWhitmanWoonsocket
People
Population
16,458
15,295Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
40.4±1.8
4% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
15.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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%
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$108,933±$14k
35% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below 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±$102
15% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$5,824Highest
87% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
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%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1957
23 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge and Whitman 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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Northbridge Whitman-Hanson RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Northbridge High None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.