Compare towns
Whitman vs Athol vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Whitman | Athol | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
12,011Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 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 | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above 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 | $472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Athol-Royalston | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.