Compare towns
Northbridge vs Brookline vs Upton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Brookline | Upton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,736Lowest |
8,189 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Whitman 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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 35% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Upton and Brookline 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. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Upton 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Brookline School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| 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.