Compare towns
Northbridge vs South Hadley vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
South Hadley has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | South Hadley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
17,754Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| 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 20% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,325±$54Highest 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| South Hadley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and South Hadley 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | South Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | South Hadley High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
8.6Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.