Compare towns

Upton vs Phippsburg 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%).
Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 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.

MeasureUptonPhippsburgNorthbridge
People
Population
8,189
2,238Lowest
16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
54.3±6.3Highest
40% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
Phippsburg 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%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
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%
34.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge and Upton 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.
$107,833±$19kLowest
34% 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.
$335,800±$47kLowest
about the U.S. average
$448,600±$15k
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,022±$346
28% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
Northbridge and Phippsburg 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.
$2,034Lowest
35% below U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
35.5%±98.7Lowest
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%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #226 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton RSU 01 - LKRSU Northbridge
High school in town Blackstone Valley None in town Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.