What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelmsford	Upton
People
Population	36,446Highest	8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA	46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA
	Upton and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Upton and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Upton and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	53.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kLowest 35% above MA	$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA
	Upton and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA	$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average
	Chelmsford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,047Lowest 34% above MA	$8,376Highest 40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8%
	Upton and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6%	22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 282 in MA	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelmsford	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.