Compare towns
Smithfield 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
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Smithfield | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above 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 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest 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 | $102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$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 | $446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 67% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 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 | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Smithfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.