Compare towns
Northbridge vs Freeport vs Upton
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 most affordable homes ($449k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Freeport | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,802 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Upton 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Northbridge 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Freeport 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. |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Upton 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | RSU 05 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Freeport High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.