Compare towns
Jackson vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Jackson | Northbridge | Upton | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897 |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Upton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Jackson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 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 | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Jackson 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Jackson School District | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| 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.