Compare towns
Upton vs Worcester vs Millis 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Worcester | Millis | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
831Lowest |
8,888 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Millis 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Millis | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Millis High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.