Compare towns
Upton vs Salem vs Georgetown 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k 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 | Salem | Georgetown | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
8,474 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Georgetown 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% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Georgetown and Salem 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem | Georgetown | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Salem High | Georgetown High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.