Compare towns
Grafton vs Killingly vs Upton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Grafton | Killingly | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
17,867 |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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 | 22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 128% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 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 | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.