Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Westerly vs Amesbury
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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Westerly has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% 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 | Westerly | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
8,189Lowest |
23,333Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.2±2.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Westerly 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% |
14.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 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% |
26.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westerly 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% 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% |
5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westerly 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 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$98,875±$5kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$466,600±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amesbury 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. |
$1,257±$131 11% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% 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% |
46.6%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Amesbury 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 | #25 of 38 in RI | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Westerly | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | Westerly High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.2Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.