Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Whitman vs Upton
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Sutton | Whitman | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
2,239Lowest |
15,295 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Whitman and Sutton 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. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Kearsarge Regional School District | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 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.