Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Ware vs Ware
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%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,189 |
6,369Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Northbridge and Ware 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.