Compare towns
Northbridge vs Kittery vs Whitman 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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Kittery | Whitman | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
10,473 |
15,295 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #191 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Kittery Public Schools | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.9Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.


