Compare towns
Upton vs Ayer 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 the highest household income ($156k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Northbridge has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Ayer | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.