Compare towns
Upton vs Washington vs Northbridge vs Lancaster
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).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Washington | Northbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,676Lowest |
16,458Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 12 | Northbridge | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Shepaug Valley School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.1Lowest |
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.