Compare towns
Bartlett vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Bartlett | Upton | Northbridge | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
8,189 |
16,458Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 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+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | Fall Mountain Regional 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.