What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Upton
People
Population	5,994Lowest	8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Alton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.	$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S.
	Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$948±$599 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$8,376Highest 169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Upton and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.