Compare towns
Barnstead vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Barnstead | Upton | Northbridge | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
8,189 |
16,458Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.