Compare towns
Canterbury vs Thompson vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most expensive 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 | Canterbury | Thompson | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
9,337Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 33% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.