Compare towns
Northbridge vs Kingston 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).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
6,275Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Kingston 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. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Kingston 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. |
$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Northbridge 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. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sanborn Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sanborn Regional High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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.