Compare towns
Canterbury vs Upton vs Hampton vs Columbia
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Columbia has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Upton | Hampton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
8,189Highest |
1,647Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Columbia 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampton School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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.