Compare towns
Gorham vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Gorham | Upton | Northbridge | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,189 |
16,458 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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 | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampden 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.