Compare towns
Westborough vs Upton vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Westborough | Upton | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,944 |
8,189Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Upton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,944±$12k 37% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Upton and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,983Highest 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Westborough and Northampton 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 | #21 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westborough | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Westborough High | Blackstone Valley | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.