Compare towns
China vs Durham 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
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | China | Durham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526 |
4,262Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Durham 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.