Compare towns
Brookline vs Newfields vs Northbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Brookline | Newfields | Northbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,023Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Newfields School District | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.