Compare towns
Springfield vs Upton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Springfield | Upton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% 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 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above 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 | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.