Compare towns
Upton vs Thompson 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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,337 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Upton and Northbridge 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.