Compare towns

Northbridge vs Windham vs Whitman

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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeWindhamWhitman
People
Population
16,458Highest
16,038
15,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
Northbridge and Windham 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Northbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
38% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$108,933±$14kLowest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,600±$15kLowest
35% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$472,700±$12k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,771±$151
25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821Lowest
55% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,824
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #191 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge Windham School District Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Northbridge High Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
12.8Highest
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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.