Compare towns
Upton vs Rowley vs Hull 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%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
6,251Lowest |
10,138 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hull and Rowley 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Rowley 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rowley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Hull and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Upton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% 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 |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hull 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #66 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.