Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Suffield 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 renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Suffield | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
15,702 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Suffield 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% |
40.4% 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% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Suffield 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 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% 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. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% 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%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% 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% |
86.7%Highest 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. |
1979 1 yr 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 3% below U.S. |
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% |
18.4%±4.1 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Suffield School District | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Suffield High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
10.9 |
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.