Compare towns
Whitman vs Woonsocket vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295Lowest |
43,521Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Whitman 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.

