Compare towns
Deerfield vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
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 | Deerfield | Northbridge | Upton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below 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 | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.8 |
11.2Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.