Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Hampton 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 most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Upton | Hampton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
16,426 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% 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% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton 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. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,813 118% 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% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% 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% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Grafton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Winnacunnet High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
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.