Compare towns
Northbridge vs Worcester vs Upton vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Worcester | Upton | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
207,055Highest |
8,189Lowest |
14,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Upton and Uxbridge 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | South High Community | Blackstone Valley | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.2 |
11.6 |
| 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.