Compare towns
Northbridge vs Springfield vs Upton vs Millbury
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Springfield | Upton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,122Lowest |
8,189 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Millbury 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury 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. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Millbury 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. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Springfield 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Blackstone Valley | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
11.3Highest |
| 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.