Compare towns
Colrain vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Otis has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Colrain | Northbridge | Upton | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% 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 | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Otis 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.