Compare towns
Whitman vs Glocester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Glocester | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
10,221Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Glocester 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. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Northbridge 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. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Whitman 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.