Compare towns
Whitman vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
6,758Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Whitman 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.