Compare towns

West Bridgewater vs Upton vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureWest BridgewaterUptonTownsend
People
Population
7,708Lowest
8,189
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±4.4Lowest
4% below MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
40.9±3.3
about the MA average
Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±3
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Upton and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Townsend and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$123,406±$23k
19% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$121,528±$23kLowest
17% above MA
Upton and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$503,800±$47k
10% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
Upton and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,921±$320Highest
9% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
West Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,471
8% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,031Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±22.6
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% below MA
35 min
22% above MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
Work from home
11.6%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #186 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA
School district West Bridgewater Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton North Middlesex
High school in town West Bridgewater Junior/Senior Blackstone Valley North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
11.2Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.