Compare towns
Ashby vs Marion vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Ashby | Marion | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
5,310 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
| Marion and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Marion and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Ashby and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Marion 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Marion | 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 | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.