Compare towns
Northbridge vs Bolton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Bolton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,737Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Bolton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Bolton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Nashoba Regional | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.