Compare towns
Upton vs Rowley vs Dover 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 the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Rowley | Dover | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
6,251 |
2,308Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Dover 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 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%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
— | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Rowley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Triton | — | 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 | 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.