Compare towns
Whitman vs Gardner 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 the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
21,148Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Gardner | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.