Compare towns
Upton vs Ripton vs Northbridge vs Sturbridge
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
508Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Sturbridge 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.