Compare towns
Northbridge vs Johnston vs Upton vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% 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 | Johnston | Upton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
29,835Highest |
8,189Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Johnston 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% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 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% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% 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±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amesbury 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. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older 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. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Amesbury 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Johnston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Johnston Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.