Compare towns
Amesbury vs Grafton vs Northbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Amesbury | Grafton | Northbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
19,902Highest |
16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Amesbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Grafton 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Grafton | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Grafton High School | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.