Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hardwick 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 youngest population (median age 43.8).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,684Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 7% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Northbridge and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.