Compare towns
Plainfield vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Plainfield | Northbridge | Upton | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,189 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Plainfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | Mohawk Trail |
| 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 | 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.