Compare towns
Northbridge vs Putnam vs Upton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Putnam | Upton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
9,292 |
8,189Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.5Lowest |
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.