Compare towns
Upton vs Putnam vs Douglas 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 most expensive homes ($577k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Putnam | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
7,120Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Putnam 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 93% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Northbridge 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. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
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.