Compare towns
Northbridge vs Upton vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
8,189 |
2,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — |
| School district | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | 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 |
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.