Compare towns
Upton vs Sterling vs Lancaster vs Northbridge
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).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Sterling | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,629Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Sterling 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. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sterling School District | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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 |
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.