Compare towns
Upton vs Sutton vs Groton 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).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Sutton | Groton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
11,390 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton 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±$33k 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Groton and Upton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Groton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Groton-Dunstable | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6 |
13.7Highest |
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.