Compare towns
Northbridge vs Surry 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Surry | Upton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
1,836Lowest |
8,189 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% 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% |
2%±1Lowest 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. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below 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. |
$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below 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. |
$969±$129 31% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below 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% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry 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% |
7% 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% |
88.6%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. |
1987Highest 7 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Surry Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | 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.