Compare towns
Conway vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Conway | Northbridge | Upton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,141 |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 41% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 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+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conway and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 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 | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Conway School District | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
11.1 |
| 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.