Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainfield 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 renters (29.5% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Plainfield | Whitman | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,522Lowest |
15,295 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest 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. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Upton 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% 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% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | — | 11.2Highest |
| 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.