Compare towns
Upton vs Ashfield vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Upton | Ashfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,893Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 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+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below 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 | $576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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 | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mohawk Trail | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 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.