Compare towns
Whitman vs Northbridge vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Northbridge | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
16,458Highest |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Northbridge and Blackstone 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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±$14k 5% above MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Northbridge | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.