Compare towns
Upton vs Hampton Beach vs Douglas 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,605Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton Beach 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Upton 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
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.