Compare towns
Northbridge vs Hudson vs Upton vs Whitinsville
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Whitinsville has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Hudson | Upton | Whitinsville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
20,077Highest |
8,189 |
7,115Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
38.8±6Lowest 3% below 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Whitinsville 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% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Hudson 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% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitinsville 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,145±$15kLowest 8% below 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±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$449,600±$22k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,197±$112 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,793Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±10.7 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% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Hudson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hudson High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.