Compare towns

Northbridge vs Dover 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

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Millbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeDoverUptonMillbury
People
Population
16,458
33,364Highest
8,189Lowest
13,961
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
42.6±3.1
10% 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%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Millbury 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%
52%
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%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Millbury 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.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% 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.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% 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.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,623±$232Highest
15% above U.S.
Millbury and Dover 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.
$8,249
164% 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%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%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%
52.7%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.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Dover 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 #64 of 120 in NH #46 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge Dover School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Millbury
High school in town Northbridge High Dover Senior High School Blackstone Valley Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
12.7Highest
11.2
11.3
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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.