Compare towns
Strafford vs Upton vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Strafford | Upton | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northwood and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$129,375±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Upton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$363,000±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,201±$372 15% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,806Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Northwood 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.