Compare towns
Blackstone vs Upton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
8,189Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% 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 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.