Compare towns
Upton vs North Adams 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | North Adams | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
12,606 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.1±3.5 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Upton and North Adams 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% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| North Adams 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 MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599 46% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
| Northbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams 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% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #268 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.