Compare towns
Upton vs Bar Harbor vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Bar Harbor | Sutton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,244Lowest |
9,452 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor 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% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bar Harbor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #2 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Sutton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Mt Desert Island High School | Sutton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
8.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.