Compare towns
Upton vs Foster 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%).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Foster | Sutton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
4,523Lowest |
9,452 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%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. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Foster 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
36.9%Lowest 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% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Foster 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. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 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. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Foster and Northbridge 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. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 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. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Foster | Sutton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Sutton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.