Compare towns
Whitman vs Wilbraham 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%).
Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Wilbraham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
14,572Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Wilbraham 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 |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hampden-Wilbraham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.