Compare towns
Whitman vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
9,960Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.