Compare towns
Chatham vs Jackson vs Upton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Chatham | Jackson | Upton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430Lowest |
897 |
8,189Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
57±10.5 47% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Upton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Jackson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Jackson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Jackson 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Jackson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| 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.