Compare towns
Peru vs Northbridge vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Peru | Northbridge | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
16,458Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,821Highest 20% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Washington 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 | — |
| School district | — | Northbridge | — |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.