Compare towns
Upton vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Meredith | Wolfeboro | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Meredith 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs 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 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
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.