Compare towns
Northbridge vs Washington vs Upton
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).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Washington | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Highest |
3,676Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% 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% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% 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±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Regional School District 12 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Shepaug Valley School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.