Compare towns
Windham vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Upton | Northbridge | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,189Lowest |
16,458 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 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+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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 | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.