Compare towns
Bolton vs Mendon vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Bolton | Mendon | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
6,325 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Bolton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Mendon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.