Compare towns
Upton vs Hampton vs Plainville 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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,647Lowest |
17,551Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampton School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Plainville High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 11.4Highest |
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.