Compare towns
Upton vs Westminster vs Putnam 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%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Westminster | Putnam | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
8,374 |
9,292 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Westminster 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%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Putnam 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. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Putnam School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Oakmont Regional High School | Putnam High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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.