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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Mendon-Upton vs Northbridge Schools

How the two districts, about 4 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Mendon-Upton ranks higher, #103 to Northbridge's #155 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Mendon-Upton students score higher: ELA 49% vs 35%, Math 51% vs 35% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Mendon-Upton averages 77 points higher (1114 vs 1037).
  • Spending: Mendon-Upton spends $2,615 more per student ($21,376 vs $18,761).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Mendon-Upton: single-family homes average $666K vs $509K. The average tax bill is $8,770 in Mendon-Upton and $5,922 in Northbridge.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
49%
Northbridge
35%
State
41%
MathMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
51%
Northbridge
35%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearMendon-UptonNorthbridgeState
202649%35%41%
202549%36%42%
202447%35%41%
202348%34%45%
202246%35%44%
202153%43%48%
Math by year
YearMendon-UptonNorthbridgeState
202651%35%41%
202549%35%41%
202449%38%42%
202348%36%42%
202242%34%40%
202135%28%36%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
1114
Northbridge
1037
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Mendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
80.1%
Northbridge
78%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
92.4%
Northbridge
89.6%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Northbridge
Mendon-Upton
15.9
Northbridge
17.4
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
94.9%
Northbridge
93.3%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Mendon-Upton
Mendon-Upton
10.7%
Northbridge
19%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearMendon-Upton ahead
Mendon-Upton
88%
Northbridge
82.5%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Mendon-Upton
Mendon-Upton
$21,376
Northbridge
$18,761
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Mendon-Upton
Mendon-Upton
$91,256
Northbridge
$88,664
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

Mendon-UptonNorthbridge
Students in classes2,0751,856
English learners3.8%4.6%
Students with disabilities15.2%23.2%
White84%78.7%
Asian3.1%1.4%
Hispanic/Latino9.3%15.2%
Black/African American1.5%2.2%
Multi-race1.9%2.5%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Mendon-Upton
Mendon-Upton
$666K
Northbridge
$509K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Mendon-Upton
Mendon-Upton
$8,770
Northbridge
$5,922
MA median
$6,814
Mendon
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$662KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,781MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.30 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$73,886MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves8.3% of budget
Upton
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$670KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$8,759MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.10 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$69,698MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves12.6% of budget
Northbridge
Worcester County · Central Massachusetts
Avg single-family home value$509KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$5,922MA median $6,814
Tax rate$11.60 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$46,340MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school88.3%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves6.3% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools

Mendon-Upton
High schools · rank of 335
Nipmuc Regional HighSAT 1114#90 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Memorial School#340 BHenry P Clough#408 B-
Northbridge
High schools · rank of 335
Northbridge HighSAT 1037#174 B-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Northbridge Elementary School#391 B-