Compare towns
Charlton 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
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Charlton | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435 |
8,189Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 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 | 24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.