Compare towns
Whitman vs Exeter vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Exeter | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
16,151 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.