Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Springfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Springfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
154,749Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest 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% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| 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 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Springfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Springfield Central High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
12.2 |
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.