Compare towns
Upton vs Salisbury 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 highest household income ($156k).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Salisbury | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
4,224Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton 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% |
19.2%±6.9Lowest 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% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest 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% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$124,256±$26k 54% 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 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. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Upton 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salisbury School District | 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.