Compare towns
Northbridge vs Strafford vs Upton vs Uxbridge
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).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Uxbridge has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Strafford | Upton | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,372Lowest |
8,189 |
14,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$124,725±$7k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton and Uxbridge 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. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$441,100±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,555±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Uxbridge and Northbridge 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.