Compare towns
Whitman vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
8,606Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Lancaster 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±$12k 16% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Lancaster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #191 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.