Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dunbarton | Northbridge | Upton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Madison School District |
| 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 |
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.