Compare towns
Northbridge vs Epping vs Upton vs Grafton
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Epping | Upton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
7,430Lowest |
8,189 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Grafton 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Grafton 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Epping School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Epping High School | Blackstone Valley | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.3Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.