Compare towns

Gill vs Northfield vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureGillNorthfieldUpton
People
Population
1,740Lowest
2,872
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
MA: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Lowest
9% above MA
48.9±4.2Highest
22% above MA
46.4±4.8
16% above MA
Northfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±8.7
MA: 19.4%
14.8%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
25.5%±5.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42.4%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±3
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,208±$14kLowest
13% below MA
$103,375±$10k
about the MA average
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,100±$17kLowest
39% below MA
$375,800±$31k
33% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$246Highest
32% below MA
$1,142±$200
35% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,318Lowest
28% below MA
$4,594
23% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±10.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.2%±25.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Gill and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
MA: 10%
6.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
29% below MA
31 min
8% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
14.9%±8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.5%±10.3
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Northfield 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 — #231 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Gill-Montague Pioneer Valley Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town Pioneer Valley Regional Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.