Compare towns
Northbridge vs Dudley 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 renters (29.5% rent).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Dudley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
11,929 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Dudley 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Dudley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.