Compare towns
Northbridge vs Windham vs Upton vs Grafton
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Windham | Upton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
16,038 |
8,189Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Upton 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
| Windham and Upton 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Windham School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Windham High School | Blackstone Valley | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.8 |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.