Compare towns
Upton vs Thompson vs Stow 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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Thompson | Stow | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
9,337 |
7,165Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.9%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. |
44.1±4.4 13% 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% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest 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% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Stow 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 93% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Stow 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 73% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above 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. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Thompson 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% |
5.2% 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% |
85.4% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #44 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | 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 | 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.