Compare towns
Upton vs Maynard vs Wilbraham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Maynard | Wilbraham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
10,712 |
14,572 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 50% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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 MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Maynard | Hampden-Wilbraham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Maynard High | Minnechaug Regional High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.