Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Dover vs Sutton
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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Upton | Dover | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,189 |
5,930Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Dover 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Upton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.