Compare towns
Whitman vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Whitman 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #191 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Northbridge |
| High school 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.