Compare towns
Athol vs Upton vs Wrentham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Athol | Upton | Wrentham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
8,189 |
12,297Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,184±$628Highest 33% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Wrentham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wrentham 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Wrentham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Blackstone Valley | King Philip Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.2 |
13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.