Compare towns
Northbridge vs Westhampton vs Upton vs Grafton
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).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Westhampton | Upton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
1,552Lowest |
8,189 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Westhampton 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% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton 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 |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Upton and Grafton 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 |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA |
| Grafton and Westhampton 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 |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Hampshire · Westhampton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Hampshire Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.0Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.