Compare towns
Alstead vs Marlow vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Alstead | Marlow | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
855Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Alstead 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 |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Marlow School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.