Compare towns
Upton vs Hampton vs Sturbridge 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 highest household income ($156k).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Hampton | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
10,101 |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton 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. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
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.