Compare towns
Putney vs Upton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Putney | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
8,189 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 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+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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 | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.