Compare towns
Upton vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Derby | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
12,487 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby 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. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Derby School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Derby High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.