Compare towns

Berwick vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureBerwickNorthbridgeUptonSidney
People
Population
8,175
16,458Highest
8,189
4,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above 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
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$336,200±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,207±$102
15% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Berwick 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 #101 of 133 in ME #226 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Northbridge Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton RSU 18
High school in town None in town Northbridge High Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8Lowest
11.2Highest
—
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.