Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Upton vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Appleton | Union | Upton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
8,189Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hope 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 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.