Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton Beach vs Upton vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Bridgewater | Hampton Beach | Upton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
2,605 |
8,189Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Upton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.