Compare towns
Hanson vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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 | Hanson | Upton | Northbridge | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Upton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Upton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Pembroke 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.