Compare towns
Whitman vs Petersham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Petersham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
1,185Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Petersham 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 |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% 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 |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Whitman and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #191 of 282 in MA | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Petersham | 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.