Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Needham vs Grafton
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.