Compare towns
Dalton vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Dalton | Northbridge | Upton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Upton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
— |
| Northbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 7.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Windsor 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
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.