Compare towns
Northbridge vs Bath vs Upton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Northbridge | Bath | Upton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,815 |
8,189Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 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+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% 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 | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% 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 | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #31 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Morse High School | Blackstone Valley | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.2 |
12.9 |
| 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.