Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Wayne vs Whitman
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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Wayne | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,189 |
1,101Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%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% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Whitman 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Upton 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.