Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Epping vs Grafton
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Epping | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189 |
7,430Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Epping 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Grafton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Epping 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Grafton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Epping School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Epping High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.