Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Washington vs Millbury
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Millbury has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Washington | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,189 |
3,676Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest 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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Millbury 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Millbury 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% 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% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 12 | Millbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Shepaug Valley School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2 |
9.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.