Compare towns
Upton vs Ashford vs Hampton 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
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Ashford | Hampton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
4,226 |
1,647Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 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+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashford and Northbridge 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 93% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashford School District | Hampton School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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 | 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.