Compare towns
Northbridge vs Bethlehem vs Upton vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Bethlehem | Upton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
3,423Lowest |
8,189 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Upton 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury and Bethlehem 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. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Millbury 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. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Regional School District 14 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
11.3Highest |
| 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.