Compare towns
Upton vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Sutton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
11,685 |
9,452 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest 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% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% 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% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sutton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hanover High School | Sutton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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.