Compare towns
Whitman vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
27,793Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Wakefield 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%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Wakefield 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±$12k 16% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Wakefield and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #191 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.