Compare towns
Upton vs Dunbarton 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,097Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Dunbarton 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. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dunbarton 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. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Dunbarton 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. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dunbarton School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | 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 |
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.