Compare towns
Northbridge vs Dover vs Upton vs Whitman
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Dover | Upton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
5,930Lowest |
8,189 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 7% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Dover and Whitman 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 |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.