Compare towns
Charlton vs Upton vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Charlton | Upton | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
8,189Lowest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3.2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,094±$423 38% below MA |
| Charlton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Holbrook |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Blackstone Valley | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.