Compare towns
Chaplin vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Chaplin | Upton | Northbridge | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
8,189 |
16,458Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 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+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 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 | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashford 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.8 |
— |
| 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.