Compare towns
Upton vs Bartlett vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Bartlett | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,281Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bartlett School District | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.