Compare towns
Northbridge vs Ogunquit vs Needham 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Needham High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.