Compare towns
Whitman vs Hermon 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 most expensive homes ($473k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Hermon | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
6,727Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Hermon 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 35% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hermon Public Schools | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
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.