Compare towns
Upton vs Webster vs Union 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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Webster | Union | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
17,748Highest |
944Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Union 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Webster and Northbridge 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | Union School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.6Highest |
— | 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.